July RPI is -1.4%

[glynn80]

In Switzerland there as at the very least an hourly service on every line. Trains connect with buses, boats and even cable cars. True integrated transport.

Oh and everyone can buy a railcard!!!!

It is also heavily subsidised by the Swiss government to the tune of 5.88 billion Swiss Francs pa (£3.35 billion). This is in stark constrast to the UK government's £6.5 billion pa subsidy to the National Rail network, which has 3x the number of passengers, 7x more track kms and 3x as many stations.

 

[nedchester]

It is also heavily subsidised by the Swiss government to the tune if 5.88 billion Swiss Francs (£3.35 billion), this is compared to the UK government's £6.5 billion subsidy to the National Rail network, which has 3x the number of passengers, 7x more track kms and 3x as many stations.

You say that like what the Swiss do is a bad thing? It isn't!

 

[glynn80]

You say that like what the Swiss do is a bad thing? It isn't!

The benefits and drawbacks of increased investment and hence increased public spending is a matter of debate and opinion.

The point I was trying to bring to the topic was that the Swiss system was not superior because of the operation of SBB, it has the edge on the UK rail network because it has had signficantly more investment at it's disposal.

 

[nedchester]

The benefits and drawbacks of increased investment and hence increased public spending is a matter of debate and opinion.

The point I was trying to bring to the topic was that the Swiss system was not superior because of the operation of SBB, it has the edge on the UK rail network because it has had signficantly more investment at it's disposal.

True but I have always wondered what sort of Network we would have if we put £6.5 billion into a nationalised set (yes I am talking BR). I bet it would be a lot better than giving ££££s to separate TOCs each of which want to make a profit. What I am trying to say is that I believe the present set up to be incredibly financially inefficient.

And increasing investment in the UK to Swiss levels would be a mere drop in the ocean compared to the amount of money that has been spent on the banks in the last year!

 

[yorksrob]

I suspect the general public will always regard the railway system as a whole rather than seperate companies. For this reason they will simply not accept any TOC making a profit while any part of the railway requires a public subsidy. I believe this is the fundamental flaw in railway privatisation as the profit making main lines will always need to subsidize the unprofitable bits. (Hence inter-city operators being hammered by heavy repayments in franchise agreements).

 

[LondonLarry]

I was waiting for someone to mention the Swiss!

They're not as wonderful as you think they are. Half the trains I've travelled on have been late - i.e. more than 5 minutes. They've even terminated a train between Zurich and Geneva at Bern for no reason. No explanation was given and the train was running to time.

 

[nedchester]

I was waiting for someone to mention the Swiss!

They're not as wonderful as you think they are. Half the trains I've travelled on have been late - i.e. more than 5 minutes. They've even terminated a train between Zurich and Geneva at Bern for no reason. No explanation was given and the train was running to time.

And that never happens in the UK does it...............?!

 

[LondonLarry]

That said every time I go to Europe I realise what a poor set up we have here.

I think you've pretty much made your feelings clear of rail travel in the UK. Too many people cite the Swiss system as being perfect and it's not. A friend of mine was in Switerland a few years ago and a power failure affecting one part of the network brough down the entire federal railway system. Would a power failure on the ECML or WCML affect all OH powered services in the UK? I think not.

 

[nedchester]

I think you've pretty much made your feelings clear of rail travel in the UK. Too many people cite the Swiss system as being perfect and it's not. A friend of mine was in Switerland a few years ago and a power failure affecting one part of the network brough down the entire federal railway system. Would a power failure on the ECML or WCML affect all OH powered services in the UK? I think not.

No system is perfect but some are more perfect than others!!!