Network Rail

A place to socialise and share opinions with other members of the BGAFD Community.
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DavidS
Posts: 1125
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Network Rail

Post by DavidS »

I feel a bit sorry for Network Rail. The popular media in this country, which has no knowledge of the subject, constantly complain about the poor state of Britain's railway, yet when attempts are made to remedy this, moan that it is being done at the wrong time. There are complaints about the amount of work be done this Easter, but what do people want? Do they want it done during the working week and inconvenience hudreds of thousands of people on their way to work, or during the holiday period and inconveniance a couple of thousand holidaymakers, who probably only use the railways a couple of times a year? Much of the problem is the fact that the railways are controlled by the ultra dogmatic Health & Safety Executive who force them to close whole sections of line where there is multiple tracks, when it used to be sufficient just to close the line that work was being carried out on. Rather different from the situation on motorways, where the HSE have no say, men are expected to work their with cars flashing pass all the time, the drivers of some, I have little doubt, being disqualified or pissed!
Peter
Posts: 2692
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by Peter »

If they'd done the job properly in the past, they wouldn't be playing catch-up now.

I think the figures were, under BR, about 500 miles of lines needed replacing each year, just to stand still. When privatised, they were managing 300 miles, but now, since the crashes and the government telling them to "get with the programme", they're now having to acheive 800 miles a year for the next seven years, just to get back to where they should already be now.

They've caused this themselves but putting dividends before safety, so no, I don't have any sympathy.
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DavidS
Posts: 1125
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by DavidS »

No one disputes what you are saying, Peter, as it is factually correct. However the problem was caused by Network Rail's predessecors, Railtrack. It was only concerned with profits and dividens. My point was that Network Rail's attempts to catch up are being frustrated by the dictatorial Health & Safety Executive and criticised by an uninformed press.
Ace
Posts: 5879
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by Ace »

See how many sympathetic commuters feel over the Easter weekend with MASSIVE disruption.
One of the reasons I cant make tonights event.

The West London of my youth is now on dvd


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DavidS
Posts: 1125
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by DavidS »

I am sorry to hear that Ace. I never attend an event that is held at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff every June because you can't get back from there by train. I've got a car but parking is a nightmare in Cardiff and I hate travelling by coach. Still at least that event is televised. The one you are talking about, is not, I suspect!
Pervert
Posts: 10396
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by Pervert »

I went to the 2001 League Cup Final in Cardiff (and saw my beloved Liverpool win flukily) but went there by coach from Southport.
Left Southport 7.00am, got 2 Cardiff at 14.30.
Got back on Coach at 19.00, arrived back in Southport 0.30 Monday morning.
Boy was I knackered, but at least I had the sense to book the day off.
As DavidS says there are no inter city trains from Cardiff in the evening

Pervert
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DavidS
Posts: 1125
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am

Re: Network Rail

Post by DavidS »

It is usually impossible to escape Cardiff by train if you attend an evening event at the Millenium stadium on a Saturday. A year or so ago, a rugby match was held there early evening for the benefit of tv schedules. The train operators refused to supply extra trains. The British Transport Police then threatened to close the station for safety reasons. All this does is force people from a fairly safe form of transport rail, to a dangerous one, roads!
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