'Nationalise trains' says Brighton MP (From The Argus)
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'Nationalise trains' says Brighton MP
10:30am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
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Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas handing out flyers against rail fair increases at Brighton Station in August
Overturning privatisation of the railways could slash fares by nearly a fifth, according to an MP.
Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas made the claim during a House of Commons debate yesterda (September 5)..
Dr Lucas said bringing the railways back into public ownership, as and when current private franchises ended, could save more than £1 billion a year of taxpayers’ money.
She added, if spent in the right way, this could reduce fares by about 18%.
It came during a discussion called by Labour demanding a 1% above inflation cap on fares for 2013 and 2014 instead of the average 6.2% hike planned for January.
Speaking before the Parliament debate, Dr Lucas said: “Britain was once world famous for its trail blazing and hugely successful railways – but today’s privatised system is ripping off passengers, harming the economy and failing the environment.
“The spiralling cost of rail travel is having a huge impact on passengers in Brighton and Hove – the latest above inflation fare increases being the final straw for many commuters in my constituency.”
Dr Lucas added she had raised the case of a constituent who said the recent rail hikes had forced him to give up his job in London directly with new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Mr McLoughlin said he was concerned about it and would look more closely at the issue of rising fares.
He told MPs: “I’m acutely aware of the concerns passengers have about fares.
“That is why we are committed to ending the above-inflation increases as soon as we can once savings are achieved and the wider fiscal situation improves.
“A relentless focus on efficiency will help us put an end to the above-inflation increases at the earliest opportunity.”
Comments(30)
MattBChiro
says...
11:00am Thu 6 Sep 12
inadaptado
says...
11:16am Thu 6 Sep 12
MattBChiro wrote:And how is that different to the current situation?
The railway were appalling when they were run by the government as British Rail. I know Ms Lucas looks young, but surely she is old enough to remember shocking time-keeping, poorly kept trains, union disputes and above inflation fare rises.
keeshond8
says...
11:34am Thu 6 Sep 12
rolivan
says...
11:39am Thu 6 Sep 12
inadaptado wrote:Totally agree some of the modern stock is already in a sorry state most of it due to vandalism.Because it is not theirs vandals don't worry about the effect it has on others.Why has it taken Her so long to make this statement ,how long has She been a Politician?
MattBChiro wrote:And how is that different to the current situation?
The railway were appalling when they were run by the government as British Rail. I know Ms Lucas looks young, but surely she is old enough to remember shocking time-keeping, poorly kept trains, union disputes and above inflation fare rises.
Fercri Sakes
says...
12:01pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Fares are jumping up above inflation, train punctuality is appalling, the tax payer contribution is higher than it's ever been and the shareholders can treat themselves to lovely dividends paid out of everybodys income tax.
So if you're very rich and pay no tax you're quids in! Who cares about the rest of society? (and remember to vote Tory, people! They really do have the interests of the working man at heart.)
bruce_
says...
12:24pm Thu 6 Sep 12
HJarrs
says...
12:52pm Thu 6 Sep 12
We shouldn't be too rose tinted about British Rail, however it was improving at a tremendous rate before it was split into over 100 companies. Years of stagnation followed privitisation, train building was so delayed that the industry collapsed and though the railways are generally better than 1994 it has been by paying a staggering level of subsidy undreamt of pre-privitisation.
If you want to see what British Rail could have and I think would have been and could be if we bring it together then go to Germany. Better, cheaper trains, better customer service and quite probably less subsidy.
Thank goodness the Liberals are in the coalition, the Conservatives want to privatise the roads and pretty much everything else their friends can trouser money from. I kid you not.
The Heretic
says...
1:16pm Thu 6 Sep 12
It's rather a pity that in the case of the Sussex rail network, there's so little of it left to argue over.
There's one missing piece of the jigsaw we CAN put back in place - but this would only interest anyone who wonders why, having forked out thousands on a season ticket, they're left wondering if they'll even get a train, never mind a seat. Or anyone who wonders why the tourists might be put off by the idea of a journey twice as long as advertised on a replacement bus service.
It doesn't need to be like this - have a look at www.bml2.co.uk to see why.
Number Six
says...
1:17pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Overturning privatisation of the railways could slash fares by nearly a fifth, according to an MP.
Very good Caroline, next time show all workings.
It must be great being the only MP your party has since you can come out with whatever you like knowing full well you'll never get into power to have to implement anything.
Personally, the less any government is involved in anything, the better
Thumper Hove
says...
1:44pm Thu 6 Sep 12
At least it is nice of her to think about her constituents for once, rather than being anywhere but here doing her "one heroic woman against the world" self-promotion.
censored
says...
1:59pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Thumper Hove wrote:Ummm.... it wouldn't cost anything... it could, in fact, make money because the railway could in future be run at a profit.
What planet is she on? Has she not noticed the country is a little short of cash at the moment??
At least it is nice of her to think about her constituents for once, rather than being anywhere but here doing her "one heroic woman against the world" self-promotion.
We already pay subsidies to the operating companies which, in many cases, go into dividends.
There is also a huge spend on supporting the legal structure: one company suing another for delays. There is no long-term thinking, because each company acts over the length of it's franchise only. Carriages are leased from leasing companies at huge expense instead of being owned by the rail system (imagine renting your car over 20 years for £20,000 instead of buying it for half that).
Our fragmented, private system is insane.
HJarrs
says...
2:08pm Thu 6 Sep 12
As to those that say may government meddling, I might point out that never have civil servants made more (often bad) decisions about railways than they do today and have done since railway privitisation.
Blondie2
says...
2:10pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Morpheus
says...
2:31pm Thu 6 Sep 12
menowhere
says...
2:37pm Thu 6 Sep 12
ok i wont but all the same my opinion is changing.
Ross92
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4:03pm Thu 6 Sep 12
But I doubt the majority of the UK wants to pick up the bill.
Tallywhacker
says...
4:49pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Roger Francais
says...
6:18pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Fercri Sakes
says...
6:22pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Roger Francais wrote:1986 called and asked for its joke back.
Belt up woman and go back to your lentil soup!
The Heretic
says...
10:04pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Blondie2 wrote:And why not? You may like to have a look at:
Bring back the "Brighton Belle". for a start.
http://brightonbelle
.com/
Because that's exactly what they're doing!
Kippers for breakfast, anyone?
tonybee
says...
2:27am Fri 7 Sep 12
she is so full of ignorant wind/
green bile. A classic quote - " methinks she is but an empty vessel "
Old Ale Man
says...
8:19am Fri 7 Sep 12
Must away or I'll miss my train.
Fercri Sakes
says...
8:59am Fri 7 Sep 12
tonybee wrote:Good to see some strong intellectual criticism of our local MP there and a detailed look at the issue at hand.
Lucas should take indigestion medicne
she is so full of ignorant wind/
green bile. A classic quote - " methinks she is but an empty vessel "
I was wondering though, could you work a bit more weak reactionary misogynistic nonsense in there, please? You're not coming across as patheticly as I think you could.
Also I'd love a run down of the digestive habits of our other MPs in the area. It's so fascinating. Where do you get your information from?
Sussex jim
says...
9:53am Fri 7 Sep 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
1:36pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Thumper Hove wrote:We wouldn't have to pay. As each franchise expires it could be taken back into public ownership. If you can't wait that long we can always re-nationalise without compensation!
What planet is she on? Has she not noticed the country is a little short of cash at the moment??
At least it is nice of her to think about her constituents for once, rather than being anywhere but here doing her "one heroic woman against the world" self-promotion.
The bottom line is that privatised transport companies (buses as well as rail) do NOT exist to serve our transport needs - they exist to make a profit for their shareholders. Unless you've been living in a cave these last few years you can't fail to have noticed that the old Thatcherite view that 'private enterprise' and 'market forces' are always the best approach has been thoroughly and absolutely trashed.
ghost bus driver
says...
10:44pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Morpheus wrote:Yeah, although they owned the tracks and the rolling stock as well. And had control over what they ran and when. Unlike the current insane franchising system.
Dr Lucas needs a history lesson. The trail blazing and successful railways were the privately owned Victorian railways. Where does she get her costs from? Just pie in the sky rubbish as usual.
tonybee
says...
2:00am Sat 8 Sep 12
Also please learn to spell or get spellcheker fixed - it is Pathetically !
spuldge
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10:05am Sat 8 Sep 12
Dave in Hastings
says...
1:21pm Sat 8 Sep 12
Morpheus wrote:More sentimental nonsense about the victorian era, when the UK infrastructure was built on the back of ripping off the 'empire' countries.
Dr Lucas needs a history lesson. The trail blazing and successful railways were the privately owned Victorian railways. Where does she get her costs from? Just pie in the sky rubbish as usual.
The railways now receive vastly higher taxpayer subsidies in real terms than they did when nationalised.
Ballroom Blitz says...
10:44am Thu 6 Sep 12