Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr K
I thought I spotted a train on time the other day, turned out it was a delayed earlier one...
Northern Rail really is on the brink of collapse, if they aren't delayed they are cancelled because of no driver/guard/train. Strong rumours its about to be renationalised like the East Coast, but don't what that will solve in the short term. No doubt it will be delayed because of the election. Damage has been done over many years.
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The problem with renationalisation in the current model is that it is only designed to ensure the trains keep running when a franchise fails. Services are run in a way that maintains the existing service but there’s no long term plan for investment or service development.
Northern would be saved from collapse in the sense that the trains would continue to operate (subject to driver and stock availability, and the absence of the wrong sort of leaves or snow), but it would not solve the network’s structural problems. The routes between major cities are often too slow, unelectrified and served by outdated stock. The solution to all of that is an absolute shedload of cash.