Over the weekend I went to Blackpool, and decided to get the train as I really couldn't be mythered trying to find a parking space.

I went through 4 stations, each run by a different rail company, each with different levels of standards and facilities.

 - First there was the station run by Northern - bit like the trains, decreped, neglected etc etc (think they refer to it as cheap and cheerful, although in one of those twists of irony I find it neither)
 - Then there was the sation run by Notwork Rail - big, bustling, charges me to take a piss although from the state of the toilets I should have asked for my money back! and a wide range of facilities.
 - Then there as the station run by Transpennine Express (TPX) - some facilities but it just smacked of "doing the minimum to keep our franchise."

All in all it was a pretty bizarre experience - ranging from ice station zebra to a plush busy station with a M&S no less, with trains to match.

But this is the thing that really bugged me - the train companies (Northern and TPX) are running the trains and paying Network Rail to stop at stations, so why are they running the majority of the bloody stations?

Now, politics isn't really my thing (I tend to shout a lot and call Hazel Blears a lying conniving bastard before she even opens her mouth, what can I say she just looks short and shifty and is a self made hypocrit!) but, as this system has been brought about by politicians, I'll happily wade into it!

Train companies should run trains - Network rail should run the infrastructures and facilities.

This way full accountability can be properly attributed to the right people.
 - If my train's overcrowded I kick off at Northern - or offer feedback to the train manager (although they tend to agree!)
 - If the station is a bag of shite then I kick off at Network Rail rather than try to guess which of the 4 train operators in the region happens to be running it!

OK, so this does appear to introduce extra layers, but bear with me!

TOCs (apparently that's what to call people who run trains) do not like to invest in stations and only do it begrudglingly as it is part of their franchise agreement. Take Northern Rail (no please, do!!!!) They operate Manchester Victoria. What a dump, it needs massive investment. It is a fabulous building to look at, but massively neglected and in need of a lot of work. Will Northern commit to it - no - it isn't in their interests as their franchise only runs for a certain period of time and, according to the company itself, "the franchise does not cover investment or expansion into the network" jobsworths!

But if it was handed over to Network Rail then Northern would be demanding that the work be done so that they could get more people through the station, and more money; and in return Network Rail would be demanding that Northern get its' act together so that they could have more people investing in the facilities at the station, pushing up its revenues.

Basically, by playing them off against each other we could feasibly see an improvement of facilities without having to lift a finger.

Perhaps needs a bit of work but I think I'm onto something - thoughts?

Taking my usual digest of banalities this morning I found that National Express have won the East Coast Rail franchise (well at least it wasn't Virgin!)

But this makes me wonder - why does the DfT keep awarding rail franchises to companies that don't run rail companies in the first place - Virgin fly planes and ruin pay tv companies, First run buses that are, in my area, poorly maintained..

What's next British Gas supplying my electricity???

ah.

Councils (and most other public bodies come to think of it) are infamous for their ability to mismanage funds and lose money hand over fist. In fact they do it on such a frequent occurance that they have almost made an art of it!

It used to be a scandal when funds went missing, or a black hole was found in the council budget, with the local papers apopletic with rage on behalf of all the local residents (was going to say voters but that would narrow the field down too much!) But now, it doesn't even make the front page!

Incompetence and public spending seem to go hand in hand.

But, this time the collective councils of Greater Manchester have come up with an absolute stunner!

Not content with forcing through a scheme that means that drivers would subsidise people who use public transport (basically leaving everybody bolloxed and the transport system in disarray if everyone were to switch to the magical new system!) they announced - whilst everyone was still gently simmering about these boneheaded and ill thought out plans - that they would also introduce a second level of congestion to town centres.

On the one hand I'm about to march off to my local town hall to nail members of the executive to the heavily (and expensively) wallpapered chambers as an act for the "greater good" and burn the horrible sixties monstrosity to the ground.

But on the other hand, I'm almost impressed by the shear balls of these people to say,
"You thought that the first plan was bad? Well, have we got a surprise for you - we're also going to rip the heart out of your town centres so that soon only the Trafford Centre will be left!"

But I don't blame these people, it isn't their fault that they are inbred degenerates with the same level of basic intelligence as Tim Nice but Dim.

I blame the Council Officers who tell them how they should vote at the AGMA meetings (yes of course they claim they are representing the people - but how the hell do you expect a postal worker to understand the first thing about transport planning? I wouldn't ask a civil engineer how walksort works!) 

But more importantly I blame the people who don't vote! It's your fault!!! Yes, YOUR'S!!!!!!!!! If you'd spent just a few minutes looking at the options instead of sniping,

Thanks

Just read this on Northern Fail's website.

Northern Rail Wins Public Transport Operator of the Year

Traveling by public transport can be, and in general is, a pain in the arse.

You fight to get on the train or bus, fight to get a seat, and then invariably are sat next to either:
 - A scally with hearing problems so bad that the entire vehicle needs to hear the happy hardcore on their      Samsung mobile,
 - Someone with personal hygiene so bad that you ofer your seat to someone else out of spite, or
 - The local psychopath.

And then there are the delays. So not only are you trapped with these bastards but you're late as well!!!

Fear not rail commuters, a site is here to help (it won't make the train any quicker, but makes the Train Operator squirm if they realise that they are being watched a lot more closely than they might be comforable with!)

You see, Rail Operators' franchises are awkward things for the people who operate the services: if they look to be doing badly then the government are forced to take them away from them.

And by signing up to this site then their performance is watched a lot more closely, by the people who us the railways, and who the government can't afford to ignore - after all, they want re-electing

Isn't democracy great?!? 

It is a great pity that bus operators aren't regulated as closely as rail companies are!