State-run trains outperform private sector (embarassment for gov!)

[bin.dare]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=594086

...

Most embarrassing for the Government, however, is the performance of the state-run South Eastern Trains (SET) franchise, which ministers are determined to re-privatise in the new year. The routes, which run mainly from Kent into London and were taken over by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) from the French group Connex in 2003, have recorded above-average improvements in punctuality for London commuter operators in two successive quarters.

Bob Crow, leader of the RMT rail union, yesterday said it would be "absolute lunacy" to sell it off to the private sector. Punctuality currently stands at 85.1 per cent, up from 79.6 per cent in the same period last year.

...

The company with the worst record this summer was Virgin West Coast with a punctuality figure of 71.9 per cent, although this was an improvement on the 65.3 per cent achieved in the same period last year. Virgin had to contend with engineering works associated with a major line upgrade.

...

[hatrack]

1. But that CAN'T BE!!! The gov. is always wrong, markets are always right!!

Ben Stein & Ayn Rand & Grover Norquist TOLD me so!!!

[parkenyc]

2. Proof that privatization

is not always better. Some things were meant to be run by the government.

[w4rma]

3. If it ain't broken don't fix it. And no matter what don't give it to some

guy so he can slice some of the funds from it off the top for himself. That doesn't make anything better for anyone except the guy profiting.

[MGKrebs]

4. One must be careful with this particular example

of good gov't. however.

After all, making the trains run on time was one of Mussolini's claims to righteousness.

[MindLikeAParachute]

5. That's the British gov't, right?

Not talking about US

[bin.dare]

6. yes, brithish gov. and Tony with his PPPs mania n/t

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

7. Your point?