[Travel] No trains brighton main line

[portlock seagull]

The one day of the entire year I wanted to get a train from Hassocks to London and this sh*t happens. Typical!

Schoolboy error!! Seriously, hope not been too inconvenienced. But these days in this country, I’ve seriously started to consider travel problems as part of any decision eg saying yes to things.

We live in a country now where it’s increasingly difficult if not impossible sometimes to move about a relatively small area. It’s partly why I gave up my ST, wont work in London etc. I simply can’t get there due to transport networks, road and rail.’The frequency of incidents is high. Whether it’s weather, congestion, security, strikes, accidents...the list is endless but it’s almost become a near certainty that something will stop you or severely restrict you from getting ‘there’. Dozens of governments are to blame but most of all the tories eg just think of the money being spent on hs2 that could be invested in the current network rather than this vanity project.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I don't see how. The line is closed between Haywards Heath and Three Bridges.

It would take about 3 hours to drive to Three Bridges given the road closures.

Ah l was going on info supplied by BBC Sussex a couple of hours ago, they were saying that the line north from Haywards Heath was passable then.

 

[vegster]

If only the profit the railway franchises make that flies out of the country faster than any of our trains get to anyway could be funneled back into investment in infrastructure renewal.

We currently subsidise the railways approx. £5billion per year – up 200% since privatisation (that's just to the rail operators, not Network Rail or Rail infrastructure projects).

Fares 20% higher in real terms than in 1995.

It's not great is it. Are there any positives from the franchise system? Is there a better way where money could go into existing services and new services? Does profit drive excellence in service and investment?

Privatisation is expected to create competition and lower prices, it never works out like that as the shareholders always take priority. Additionally, rail franchises rent the network for the duration of their franchise so there is absolutely no interest in them for investing in infrastructure they may not be using in a year or two's time as they will be gone with their profits.

 

[portlock seagull]

Haha, it's wonderful, you should try it sometime!

Another reason I better steer clear of China is the food. I could eat fried rice morning noon and night!

 

[Lush]

M23 closed both directions. Brighton mainline closed.

#BRIXIT

 

[Napper]

Chaos

 

[schmunk]

I've claimed my Delay Repay already - don't forget!

https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/journey-problems/delay-repay-compensation

 

[pornomagboy]

let's hope the sheffield united team bus drove down and the players are stuck in the traffic and all have cramp for tomorrows game, or fly down and get stuck in the 2 hour ques getting out of the airport

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[Ninja Elephant]

So, I was already looking forward to my drive to Darlington today, but now it's going to be a whole lot more fun! I thought getting away from Brighton would be the easy part, but apparently not. I shall be stocked up in the car and ready for a long, slow slog.

 

[beorhthelm]

If only the profit the railway franchises make that flies out of the country faster than any of our trains get to anyway could be funneled back into investment in infrastructure renewal.

We currently subsidise the railways approx. £5billion per year – up 200% since privatisation (that's just to the rail operators, not Network Rail or Rail infrastructure projects).

Fares 20% higher in real terms than in 1995.

It's not great is it. Are there any positives from the franchise system? Is there a better way where money could go into existing services and new services? Does profit drive excellence in service and investment?

so do we wont more subsidy or more fare rises? because complaining about both certainly wont move anything forward. about 2% goes to operators in profit, which would be about the same as cost of finance in public ownership, and isnt the cause of problems. there are no inherent positives from the franchise model, but nothing really negative either, its probably not ideal nor terrible.

 

[Uter]

We currently subsidise the railways approx. £5billion per year – up 200% since privatisation (that's just to the rail operators, not Network Rail or Rail infrastructure projects).

The £5billion per year figure is broadly accurate, but that figure is support provided to the total industry, not just to operators. Network rail gets the lions share. Support to operators is much lower and sometimes it's actually a net premium rather than a subsidy.

 

[Bold Seagull]

The £5billion per year figure is broadly accurate, but that figure is support provided to the total industry, not just to operators. Network rail gets the lions share. Support to operators is much lower and sometimes it's actually a net premium rather than a subsidy.

View attachment 118421

That doesn't even include the government loans to Network Rail that generally exceed £5.5bn per year. Pre-Privatisation investment in British Rail was never near these levels as it was run into the ground with privatisation as the answer. The question is, whether if our publicly owned rail had had these levels of investment, would we have even considered privately owned rail services and disparity between services, fare structures, and levels of competence.

 

[Uter]

That doesn't even include the government loans to Network Rail that generally exceed £5.5bn per year. Pre-Privatisation investment in British Rail was never near these levels as it was run into the ground with privatisation as the answer. The question is, whether if our publicly owned rail had had these levels of investment, would we have even considered privately owned rail services and disparity between services, fare structures, and levels of competence.

From now on they have to present the loans and direct support to NR together so that might make it quite an eye-watering figure next year. Presumably a lot of the support is to help service Network Rails £50billion+ debt, although I can't pretend to fully understand all the financial reports. They make my head spin.

I suppose you could look at money to NR as effectively a subsidy to TOCs. It just demonstrates that running a railway is generally unprofitable when you take all costs into account.

 

[Bold Seagull]

From now on they have to present the loans and direct support to NR together so that might make it quite an eye-watering figure next year. Presumably a lot of the support is to help service Network Rails £50billion+ debt, although I can't pretend to fully understand all the financial reports. They make my head spin.

I suppose you could look at money to NR as effectively a subsidy to TOCs. It just demonstrates that running a railway is generally unprofitable when you take all costs into account.

Transport fuels your economy. If you can have a dynamic workforce that can move around, then investment can be made in less desirable places and your economy can grow. Rail doesn't have to be profitable in and of itself if the economy profits from the efficiency and speed of it. Are privately run rail services able to make the kind of plans on longer term strategies that benefit the economy rather than their own profitability?

 

[Napper]

Pitch inspection 11am

 

[Uter]

Transport fuels your economy. If you can have a dynamic workforce that can move around, then investment can be made in less desirable places and your economy can grow. Rail doesn't have to be profitable in and of itself if the economy profits from the efficiency and speed of it.

I was not arguing that it should be profitable. Just making an observation.

 

[dazzer6666]

Police and HA indicating that no timetable yet for reopening of M23 - and much more heavy rain forecast over the next 36 hours (weather warning in place from midnight), can't see how they're going to basically stop a river.............

 

[nleaney]

Good shout... What time do you think they'll make a call if the game is going ahead or not. Weather forecast doesn't look like it's going to let up anytime soon and I'm driving down from Cambridge :-(

 

[blue-shifted]

M23 closed both directions. Brighton mainline closed.

#BRIXIT

If only it were so

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Still with a few last Xmas presents to buy, l made the silly decision to 'nip' into Horsham on the bus.

Big mistake.

After a wait of nearly an hour and a half, I cut my losses and came home. During that time I saw one Compassbus on route 100 from Horsham to Burgess Hill trundle past, clearly on diversion as the route doesn't normally come anywhere near Cowfold, and finally the route l wanted the 17. The problem was the bus was on the wrong side of the road as it was headed to Brighton!

The poor driver seemed as confused as l was when we stopped, having no idea how he was going to complete his journey. I'd give up if l were you mate, try again tomorrow.