@ChrisMayLA6

I admire the German Deutsche Bahn model:

1. Buy and run four private train companies in the UK, including London Overground and the Grand Central line.

2. Charge Brits up to £2 per mile.

3. Use profits made in the UK to subsidise German train tickets (58€ per month, unlimited travel).

At least one nation has benefited from Thatcher’s privatisation.

@RaffKarva

Yes, its ironic isn't it..... or perhaps (if I was to be more judgmental) exploitative

@ChrisMayLA6 @RaffKarva

The other question is why not subsidise rail rather than roads? I don't know what the figures are for the UK, but in the US it's reckoned that state and federal income from fuel etc taxes is only around HALF the level of expenditure on roads - and that's without taking into account road transport 'externalities' (air pollution, congestion, accidents, noise and climate change) - and there's a study in the EU showing that when you do include these externalities ALL countries subsidise road transport. Yet there's very little controversy about public subsidy of roads, while the much more sensible subsidy of rail always seems to attract criticism.

@GeofCox @ChrisMayLA6 @RaffKarva

Because road travel is based on a vehicle type that has deliberately been made widely affordable and thus able to be relentlessly marketed with every emotional ploy under the sun. In an average evening’s TV viewing on a commercial channel at least one car ad will feature, quite often several. One is unlikely to see a rail ad in a month or more

@llanciawn

In the UK, I assume you mean. Here in France the (state-owned) railway system is great, especially in terms of reliability - but also ease of use, costs (compared with the UK), etc... I was in a little station - Clisson, in the Loire - at the weekend, which had the most fantastic art exhibition on.

@urlyman @ChrisMayLA6 @RaffKarva