https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...n_railways
The railways in France and Germany are indeed state owned as are the ones in the Netherlands and Belgium all of which I've travelled on and agree they are effective with modern, comfortable rolling stock. Also study the list of state owned railways - not just a few!! So what makes the UK so f###### different from many other state owned railways in similar sized countries? As suggested, certain taxation techniques are different but I'd say more significantly we're dealing with a political ideology where private ownership is sacrosanct and allowing capitalist 'rip offs' is part n parcel of their game!! I must also add that my taxes, your taxes and those of lotsa other UK tax payers were used and invested in state owned railways, energy companies, the GPO etc only for them to be sold off to their Tory supporting pals - all part of a political ideology and a flawed one btw!! Also part of that process was this Tory master plan to attack and weaken the trade unions at every opportunity, all to suit this political ideology and allied to this association with their Tory supporting business pals! Municipal railways and other services that are essential to the movements and needs of the British public can indeed be operated effectively and efficiently in the public domain and contrary to an argument that suggests it's economically impossible. The first railways in this country were actually owned by private rail companies until they were eventually nationalised as the rail network began to expand across the country - it's npt a new phenomenon to revert back to a municipal model with customer friendly prices 'across the board' and profits reinvested in the industry. As the saying goes, 'Where there's a will, there's a way' and that applies in a political sense!! Lastly, I'd like to see the result of a straw poll of regular rail passengers, particularly those in heavily used train servs down south. My gut feeling tells me they'd favour a municipal railways model after enduring the various probs re high prices, ticketing inconsistencies, crowding, a lack of proactive measures to improve the service etc.
The railways in France and Germany are indeed state owned as are the ones in the Netherlands and Belgium all of which I've travelled on and agree they are effective with modern, comfortable rolling stock. Also study the list of state owned railways - not just a few!! So what makes the UK so f###### different from many other state owned railways in similar sized countries? As suggested, certain taxation techniques are different but I'd say more significantly we're dealing with a political ideology where private ownership is sacrosanct and allowing capitalist 'rip offs' is part n parcel of their game!! I must also add that my taxes, your taxes and those of lotsa other UK tax payers were used and invested in state owned railways, energy companies, the GPO etc only for them to be sold off to their Tory supporting pals - all part of a political ideology and a flawed one btw!! Also part of that process was this Tory master plan to attack and weaken the trade unions at every opportunity, all to suit this political ideology and allied to this association with their Tory supporting business pals! Municipal railways and other services that are essential to the movements and needs of the British public can indeed be operated effectively and efficiently in the public domain and contrary to an argument that suggests it's economically impossible. The first railways in this country were actually owned by private rail companies until they were eventually nationalised as the rail network began to expand across the country - it's npt a new phenomenon to revert back to a municipal model with customer friendly prices 'across the board' and profits reinvested in the industry. As the saying goes, 'Where there's a will, there's a way' and that applies in a political sense!! Lastly, I'd like to see the result of a straw poll of regular rail passengers, particularly those in heavily used train servs down south. My gut feeling tells me they'd favour a municipal railways model after enduring the various probs re high prices, ticketing inconsistencies, crowding, a lack of proactive measures to improve the service etc.