Take it from someone who has experienced both British Rail and these privatised rail people here in the UK. These privatised Train Operating Companies (TOC's) have raped and pillaged Britain's railway industry from top to bottom. Richard Branson and his cohorts ought to be prosecuted not commended. I believe they are thieves and frauds, the lot of them.
If (the nationalised) British Rail (BR) had been given the levels of investment that these TOC's have been given then Britain would have the finest railway system in the World bar none. Twelve and thirteen coach trains (with proper comfortable seating - including plenty of leg room and luggage storage space ) have been replaced by plastic and fibreglass crap of three and four coaches in length with only enough legroom for children up to the age of about 10 (one of Branson's ideas to model train interiors on aircraft interiors. Why? Pack 'em in and sod the comfort, I suppose.) Furthermore, these "modern" seats may as well be made out of solid wood for all the comfort you get from them - that's if you're lucky enough to find a vacant seat in the first place. Add to that the fact that you could train a monkey to drive these damn trains (computer controlled this that and everything) and it's not hard to see why everyone, from frontline staff to customers, is completely disillusioned. Oh, and they couldn't run to a timetable if their lives depended on it. In my time, when we were "on time" we were ON TIME - not "within 10 minutes of the advertised time" as they classify on time now. Many a time WE even arrived early. They can't even SPELL early these days let alone arrive early. Late or cancelled is all they understand now.
BR got bad publicity because it was easy to knock and joke about. However, in 25 years I never heard of a cancelled train (outside of the immediate London area) before the government split services down into freight, local and inter-city sectors, which we now know was in readiness for privatisation. Things like BR sandwiches were legendary amongst comedians, but did you ever try one in more recent years? (pre-privatisation, of course.) They were pretty good. However, that was never reported in the press. The jokes and the myths sounded better and appealed to the readers more. After all, why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The TOC's continue to get away with it all because they have got rid of most of the BR expertise and replaced staff with mostly ex-military yes men. "We do things differently nowadays. You guys don't understand the modern way," they say. Oh yes we do and that's why you got rid of us as fast as you could. We'd be on strike every other day if we worked for you. A hundred and fifty years of hard earned agreements with the Unions are being stomped all over every day - and most of them safety related issues. The Government don't want to know. However, if there is ever another major crash/derailment - God forbid - then the real truth will come out and the people responsible ought to pay dearly, though they never do.
Finally, British Rail also had TWO staff pension funds that had an embarrassment of riches - all of which was inherited by the TOC's. As there was so much money in these funds, the TOC's asked the government if they could take a "pensions contribution holiday" so that they could invest more in their daily operations :hehe:. A few years later (surprisingly?) it was discovered that there was now a SEVEN BILLION POUNDS BLACK-HOLE in these pension funds. Where did the money go? Nobody has ever had to explain. Anyone asking about it is fobbed off with some lame comment like, "Oh don't worry. It's all being dealt with. It's only figures not a real black-hole." Not real? Oh? Then why was my pension reduced? Why has the retirement age been extended for those still working? Thieves and robbers, the whole damn lot of them in my opinion.
And don't worry about the electrification of the Bristol to Paddington line, Bill. You're better off with HST's mate. Once the wires are up you'll only end up with another version of Branson's Pendolino's (or Pretendolino's as they are more commonly known by those with experience of them.) Plasic seats and everything peeling or snapping off after a week in service. Pure crap mate. And don't even think about getting a seat.
The owners of these TOC's have destroyed an excellent industry purely in the name of greed. If there's any justice in this World (and I don't believe there is) they should be made to pay the severest of penalties. They are blatantly robbing the British Taxpayer and laughing in our faces while they do it. What's more, this is a global issue. Similar things are happening in every country in the World to every taxpayer in the World. These rich gluttons bleed us all dry and politicians just stand by and watch (no doubt having their pockets lined while they do so, Im sure.)
Dave