Signal Failures?

[Christian]

The reason given for most train delays in the UK is signal failure. Why don't they just replace them all?

[whiskygalore]

Because of the cost. Railtrack spent �5Billion in '99 on upgrading the signalling system on the West coast mainline track fron London to Glasgow. That's for just one stretch of track. Under the Tory government, all the major transport systems; bus, rail, tube etc. were consistently overlooked in the annual budget. Due to this neglect, the systems have fallen into disrepair, hence the spiralling costs & the unwillingness on the part of the current Government to instigate any major long term refurbishment plans.

[Christian]

Why don't they just increase the cost of the tickets slightly and then they will have the cash they need to replace all the signals?

[whiskygalore]

This is what they do anyway! Unfortunately, Railtrack seems to spend most of their budget on management consultants, and bad decisions. The repair work I wrote about before is a good example. The original costs for the West Coast repair work were estimated at �2.1Bn. Halfway through the work, Railtrack decide that the system is too costly to implement, so decide to scrap it. It also doesn't help that Railtrack is notorious for their 'fat cat' bonuses, all directors salaries are at least six figure sums.

[jonesadamd]

Managerial and government incompetence. Sub-contracting means that the responsibility for delays and even deaths just vanishes into thin air. The bonuses are still coming into the boardroom, so why replace the signals? The reason they don't increase ticket prices is that it's already obscenely expensive. Two journalists recently bought, MOT'd and filled a car that got them from Glasgow to London for less than the cost of a train ticket, in less time. I'd also guess that the car didn't smell of urine and they got to sit down during the journey.

[Extreme_bike]

Godamn it trains are already too expensive!!! �40 to go 120 miles. If it were cheaper, i (and most teenagers) would be up and down the country like yo-yo's to skate parks etc. And we would convince our parents to go holiday on trains too (no-one likes sitting in a car for 6 hours. If it cost �15-20 for this journey they'd fill every intercity in service and make millions! Thats the way they should make their money. Oh and sack all the fatcats.