great to have such knowledgeable debate in this thread
@cjmillsnun - your point about private companies creaming off profits as their 'fat cats' accumulate bonuses for poor performance, is apt.
I didn't mean by my previous post to imply I was favouring a fully state owned Railway, but I do believe that the 'wheels' side of it should be somehow regulated to be more in favour of the customer. Including the routes which may need subsidising.
