Railways Act 1993 and British Rail

[Ascot]

With the government over the past few years talking about what to do with the Railway do you think we will ever go back to British Rail with Intercity, Regional and NSE toothpaste? Or with some changes or be left like this for ever more. hock:

 

[Daniel]

I think one day the railway will be nationalised. It's getting that way, going back to "The Big Four", all mainly First, Govia, and National Express, (until they lost most franchises), and now, I suppose, Arriva.

However, if it's ever re-nationalised I don't think we'll see IC, Regional or LSE - they'll try and keep it a bit more modern I would imagine.

 

[Dennis]

The railways are privatised - BR was the publicly owned product of nationalisation of the big four (which were themselves private companies).

The ideals of privatisation are currently being smothered by DfT over-involvement, trying to manage all aspects of (passenger) rail operation and leaving no room for private sector flair and innovation, leaving franchise operators as little more than contractors.

At the moment, the railways seem to lack any real 'can do' mentality, something which was evident in abundance both during sectorisation and the early days of the privatised railway.