Today I hear the news is Jeremy Corbyn's announcement of plans to re-nationalise the country's railways, aka BR MkII. Ok so I will admit I was not a fan of the original break up of our railways. I was never comfortable with the way the system was broken up and thought that the end result was destined to be a failure. Anyone who had anything to do with the railway up to the point of denationalisation will know that the original company identity and ethos was alive and strong throughout the workforce. These men loved their railway with a passion, and especially the difference that endured through nationalisation. They had a pride in their line that the great post-war socialist experiment failed to remove. You could see this in the way each line had its individual locomotives. The last pride in the line was crushed by the system of privatisation chosen by the Tories.
THe Tory plan was in my opinion a dogs dinner, or a complete mess. I could not understand the principle of giving the plum routes to private companies. All that would lead too is the exact same result as the demise of our countryside bus services that have left so many communities, mine included, isolated. This as far as I was concerned bad conservatism. Had they chosen to break up the system to the way it was before the original nationalisation, each company being responsible for the trains and the tracks I'd have been all for it.
So Mr Corbyn has announced his policy to re-nationalise our railways, but just how to do it and remain friends with the European Union. As a life-long Tory I should oppose this body and soul, but I also love railways. It is a form of transport that is romantic which naturally appeals to my feminine side. Travel by train and you get to enjoy the countryside as it rushes by. You're not confined to your seat. Having a meal on the train still is a highlight of travel. I use trains quite a bit for UK travel, and the private companies have had a good impact on ticketing and pricing, something I seriously doubt would have been achieved under public ownership. These changes have brought about a massive increase in the use of train travel. Brought about a big investment in modern comfortable rolling stock. It has allowed a big increase in the main line running of heritage trains which brings in a lot of money from enthusiasts who love to travel in the old way behind a steam engine working hard. So I guess it is easily arguable that the changes have been beneficial by and large. But I can't help feeling that to re-nationalise our railways back to the way it was would be detrimental, hopefully common sense will prevail and see that the "East Coast" experiment which earned a lot for the treasury would teach labour that running a state owned operation along private owned principles reaps the rewards they seek.
The decision in the Railways act 1999 to remove the possibility for state owned franchises to operate is the sticking point. I'm all removing this part of the law so that private and public can run side by side, The government can then make additional funds for the treasury, but in order to do so will need to be kept on its toes to compete. Full nationalisation of an industry simply kills the competitive drive to excellence and just promotes complacency, and reduces choice. However, put public and private side by side, it may just work.
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