From BBC News online:

Review to consider railway cuts

Two months after a new company took over train services across the north of England a review has started which could see some services cut.
Northern Rail started running services on 12 December.

Now the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), which awarded the franchise, is calling in consultants to see where money could be saved.

The consultants will look at the effects of higher fares, running only peak time trains or even closing lines.

Review of services

It is likely that any changes to services will be implemented during 2006.

A spokesman for the SRA said: "The Northern Rail franchise agreement always specifically and publicly stated that a review of services would take effect in 2006.

"The review is designed to take the opportunity to look at whether the taxpayer is getting value for money from the considerable subsidies which are paid."

The spokesman added that any changes will only take place after full consultation with passenger groups and other interested parties.

A final decision on changes to Northern Rail services are likely be taken by the Department for Transport as the SRA will cease to exist by the end of 2005.

What do you think. Typical North-South divide? Local trains are too good for Northerners, bung 'em on buses!

They wouldn't dare do this down south because they would be politically lynched.

Surely the reason not enough passengers are using the trains in question is because they have allready been cut to the bone to the point where the timetable is inadequete for many passengers needs.

They should be looking at investing in more services and promotions to attract more passengers, therefore with more revenue less subsidy is required!

"The review is designed to take the opportunity to look at whether the taxpayer is getting value for money from the considerable subsidies which are paid."
It's funny how the government always gets to the same conclusion with taxpayer money, we never need it...

If it were up to me to ask if we had value for money I'd say no we don't have ENOUGH, certianly not too many: NUMPTIES !
I swear we are going to have to do something and start asking our local MPs and start rummiging things at the next elections coz these kind of decisions make me want to kick someone's backside (said politely) when I read this kind of filth.

The Government are stupid.

I was wondering if its more a case of government wanting to move funding from National funding to local tax payers. Its a case of do you view railways as A National Network or just a local service.It could be that if the Northern Network is to get a Beeching style axe we just end up with routes currently served by GNER,Virgin,Midland Mainline and Trans Pennine.

Mr Strix takes 2 trains to work. If the local commuter train to Sheffield is axed, the Intercity service will lose it's customer too, when he is forced to take a car to work. :mad:

Originally posted by Strix
Mr Strix takes 2 trains to work. If the local commuter train to Sheffield is axed, the Intercity service will lose it's customer too, when he is forced to take a car to work. :mad:

Quite, these local trains, including rural ones, often feed into the long distance express train routes. Before privatisation, when British Rail ran both services, generally the profits from the Intercity train went some way to fund the little branch line trains that connected into it.

Renationalise the railways.

Reregulate the buses.

We can't afford profit as the motive for our transport network any longer. It's a joke - lives endangered and poor services that force people to use cars for virtually every journey. People moan at the council and the PTE but they don't control anything any more. Transport has got to be run as a service or everyone outside London and the SE are stuffed. If any of the parties ever realise it this policy would also be a votewinner. It's not just a leftie thing it's common sense.

Originally posted by Bilge
Renationalise the railways.

Reregulate the buses.


this is the only way we can have any kind of hope that things can be anywhere near as good and reliable or as cheap as they used to be

Originally posted by Bilge
Renationalise the railways.

Reregulate the buses.


Where did the 'integrated transport policy' go? Unless they pass a law that 'if you work here, you must live there', we cannot have profitable transport routes to all places. Everybody needs to get to different places (berluddy obvious, really). Why can't the government 'see' the feeder routes?

When the east coast mainline was upgraded, (and became a viable way to travel) the revenue reaped from it propped up the entire rail network's losses. Now doesn't that tell you something?

Provide a fast, reliable public transport service - and people will use it!