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A great prize, but a great risk: why we all need the nationalised South Western Railway to work
(www.theguardian.com)
Important? It just seems like the same Grauniad comment guff to me. The Lede begins
If fares don’t fall
All ticket prices have been set by DfT since 2020. Fares will not fall, and we know this. The fully-nationalised ScotRail has raised prices faster than anyone else, in fact.
Between 2006 and 2022, an estimated 65% of train operating company profits were paid out in dividends to shareholders
But no mention that these profits accounted for 2% of the ticket price, giving the false impression that there are massive savings to be made.
Revenue that previously flowed to shareholders should fund service improvements – more staff, better cleaning and extended opening hours at stations.
Again, given how shoe-string the profits were, that’s asking a lot. It’s also inconsistent. Do they want the savings, or do they want the improvements?
ROSCOs are not going to be nationalised. That would cost astronomic numbers, and it is easier to filter them out as old rolling stock is replaced.