QUITE why Britain’s railways are a shadow of those on the Continent is a mystery. Some put it down to a failure to invest in infrastructure, others blame operators.
But no one has the definitive answer, which leaves us with trains that are more expensive and less punctual than in most EU countries.
The East Coast main line has been fraught with more problems than most. Now it is again open to tender, following five years in public hands after National Express East Coast withdrew in the face of Government premiums totalling £766 million over three years.
But last year the line only produced a turnover of £611.7 million, which perhaps is the real problem. So isn’t it time to make our railways a better deal for operators? Hopefully that might then translate into the better value and more reliable service we all deserve.
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