Sleeper train losing £2.5m a year

**Ja'chyra** · 07-26-2005, 15:36

I've only used a sleeper once when going to an interview in London when I still stayed in Scotland. Needless to say it full of drunken football fans and I never got any sleep, still got the job though, I'm so good...

**xemitg** · 07-26-2005, 18:06

How popular is the train system in England? In America the railroad companies only survive on massive government subsidies. Actually I can only think of CSX as the sole surviving railroad conglomerate .

**ShadesWolf** · 07-26-2005, 21:36

Originally Posted by xemitg

How popular is the train system in England?

Thats a hard one to answer ? I personnely almost never use it. Its impossible for me to get to work on, unless I drive the same distance as work to catch one, then they are not on time etc.,

If you live in London its prob ok, and gets used. If I need to go into the city then I would probably use it, but only because it would be a problem to parking, traffic etc....

Has anybody else got any comments

As for finance and profitability, well Labour nationalised all the private train operators years ago, I would image they were profitable else they'd have gone out of business.

Hence, same old story, not enough money put in, to many paper pushers, 10 people doing the same job = not profitable, tax burdon for a second rate service.

**bmolsson** · 07-26-2005, 22:00

It's a pity that train isn't used more than they are. Flying is superior on long travels, but you have at least 2 hours extra on start and landing, plus often the fact that airports are located in the middle of nowhere......

**Taffy_is_a_Taff** · 07-26-2005, 22:12

I've done the London-Aberdeen sleeper a few times. It was excellent: if you have a bed it's very restful. If you have a seat then find a random drinking buddy because it's impossible to sleep in the bloody chairs.

**xemitg** · 07-27-2005, 04:12

Originally Posted by ShadesWolf

Hence, same old story, not enough money put in, to many paper pushers, 10 people doing the same job = not profitable, tax burdon for a second rate service.

Alas... Such is the plight of the middle class.

**Idaho** · 07-27-2005, 10:31

Originally Posted by xemitg

How popular is the train system in England? In America the railroad companies only survive on massive government subsidies. Actually I can only think of CSX as the sole surviving railroad conglomerate .

Who pays for the roads in America?

Are do airlines get a tax rebate on fuel?

**BDC** · 07-27-2005, 15:31

The City wouldn't work without the trains. Everyone is shipped in from the suburbs every morning. Round here the trains are completely packed. I've practically been lodged against the door a few times. Just have to hope the first stop is yours as you fall out.

**xemitg** · 07-28-2005, 02:51

Originally Posted by Idaho

Who pays for the roads in America?

Are do airlines get a tax rebate on fuel?

In America the roads are maintained largely by the states. The federal government built many of the highways but it’s the state and local governments who keeps them decent. The small roads like the ones outside of my house are city roads which I pay taxes for primarily through gas tax. The way I understand it, the Federal Government pays the states to help keep the roads in good order.

About the tax rebate on jet fuel, the answer is no. I heard on the radio that a typical jet consumes a staggering 700 gallons of premium fuel per hour of flight. On a related note, I heard on the news today that Delta is inching ever closer to bankruptcy.