Recent content by dstrat

If there is a way to allow business to make a fast buck, they will make it happen. I don't think anybody disagrees that having private firms running those train franchises that have never turned been turned a profit (even if their parent companies have !!!) and as such are subsidised by the...

To me, its quite simple. This is a great idea for now if we are planning to close the country in a few years time. But if we are planning to keep the country running into foreseeable time, it's instead short-sighted thinking that only costs the country in the long run, given that this current...

I would say generally where the profit motive is absent and all parties involved are required to be purely concerned about providing the best service then state provision is often the best method, yes. But really, if you have anybody who cares enough about the provision and rather than the...

There is no need to voice 'objection'. Any employee should they choose, can opt-out of the EU Working Time Directive that mandates the 48-hour working week.

The 37-48 working week has provided a very poor work-life balance and is a Victorian idea that really does need to be challenged. It is quite absurd that we have to spend our very existence holed up at work in the manner of current. We all should be making our contribution to society but it...

Moonshot, If I invest in the Stock Market, the indicators I am looking into is the security of the investment and its expected relative return. I am not looking into the fickle relative merits of how well their train service operates. Please explain to me, how in any way, having a private...

This just got me thinking. Apparently a Class 70 has a 6000l fuel tank :shock: That would cost me about 8 grand to fill up at a filling station. So how far can you get on 8 grands worth of supermarket diesel in the thing? :D And if anybody has any ideas on distances of other trains on...

Maybe I should have not have used the word 'critical' and rather very important infrastructure. However, the car often isn't the preferable option for those in big cities. If we subscribe to London being 'a powerhouse' of the UK economy and that it would be inaccessible by car in...

No problem at all when it involves goods or services not considered critical to the fabric of a country. So Ford or BMW can pay whatever they want to their shareholders as far as I'm concerned - as they could not be considered 'critical infrastructure'. So by your line of thinking..are you...

Those companies behind the TOCs that are floated on stock exchanges, report profits (at the expense of who?) and divest this amongst those who have the money in the first place to invest in order to create more. They have failed in the sense that the private market has been able to provide...

All of you talking about risk. Have we just ignored the collosal sums that were handed out to the banks? Unless you have complete economic meltdown, which if this happened there would be greater things to worry about, the railways are likely to be an asset that overtime will grow in its...

Fair enough Daikilo. That is fair enough if so, however it still means that the project didn't match up with the desires of the National Express group and on that basis dropped it. Even though it happens to be a fairly critical piece of national infrastructure! Well, as it always is, it...

Quoted for truth! If you do not believe in unions, they you don't actually believe in democracy and actually you believe in the class system that ensures an underclass remains. Sure the unions don't always get it right, but they can be worth their weight in gold at times when you are trying...

Whatever method of operating it, it should not be used as a financial investment for the few to make profit out of, it should be run as to provide the best service to the passenger, whilst providing a good life for those working on the railway. The departments of the state know they can run...

All I'll say is look at Hitachi's latest wonder creation on HS1. It is a completely soulless and bland affair. I used to regularly travel from East Kent all the way up north and getting off that train and onto an Intercity 125/225 was night and day. I think most people who are currently...