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>use of the rail network started climbing significantly higher when the current franchise system came into play I know more people who have long train commutes
by crdoconnor 10y ago
>use of the rail network started climbing significantly higher when the current franchise system came into play
I know more people who have long train commutes these days than I used to. That's not a function of how much better run the network is though, it's a function of rising house prices (which has been going on since the 90s) driving people further and further out.
With a nationalized rail system the same thing would have happened.
- vertex-four 10y agoOr did the privatised rail system allow people to more reasonably travel long distances for work, allowing people to move further out, allowing cities to grow and require more workers and thus raising house prices further out with increased demand? Personally, I'm not really in favour of the franchise system - a concession system a la London Overground would work better in many places (inc Scotland) IMO - but I don't think it's as simple as "the franchises are doing exactly what British Rail would've done".
- crdoconnor 10y ago>Or did the privatised rail system allow people to more reasonably travel long distances for work, allowing people to move further out, allowing cities to grow and require more workers and thus raising house prices further out with increased demand? No. The increase in house prices was both staggering and coincidental with investors buying up properties an leaving them empty. >don't think it's as simple as "the franchises are doing exactly what British Rail would've done British Rail was neglected and lacking investment. This is part of the privatization handbook - intentionally underfund and then use that as a pretext for pushing privatization. I think if it was well funded we'd have a cheaper, better system.