Why are our railways so bad?

[totallyfixed]

We are just back from the Netherlands, a 4 day mini break that included 3 days of train journeys, both weekday and weekend. Some observations in no particular order:
Trains were all on time except once when it was 5 mins late leaving but made the time up after a few stops.
Connections were perfect, only once had to wait longer than 12 mins, this included changing platforms.
Trains were spotlessly clean, even at the end of the day.
Information on times, platforms and destinations was clear and accurate on numerous displays both on and off the train.
All the platforms were extraordinarily long [in one case I estimated 1km] able to take any length of train or indeed 2 at the same time.
The cost to travel all day to any station in the Netherlands was 17 Euros or a bit over £12, on one of the days it was just 13 Euros.
All the trains we used were around 90% full even Sunday morning.
Many of the trains were double deckers, doubling carrying capacity.
Single fairs were half the cost of returns.

In short a great experience, stress free and a complete contrast to here in the UK. Just to add, and completely unrelated we hired bikes from the station at Nijmegen courtesy of our Dutch friends for 2 Euros each per day.
So not only have the Dutch cracked the cycling angle but also the trains, why can't we?

 

[Neilsmith]

Don't depress me more I often sit waiting for late trains miss connections because of late trains and arrive home from work very late in the evening having been more stressed by the journey than work.

 

[psmiffy]

Goverment ££££££££££££

 

[Drago]

You think they're back now. You should have tried relying on them in the eighties.

 

[Crackle]

Some report said that our railways are 30% less efficient than a lot of European equivalents.

 

[Drago]

Yep, wouldn't surprise me.

They're crap, so I don't use them.

 

[Scoosh]

There may be a case to be made that the Dutch rail network was re-built after being devastated in WW2, so they were starting much later than our predominantly Victorian-era network. Not having many hills also helps, as it's much cheaper to build.

Maybe they even planned their network - you know, integrating it into their other transport networks ... Now there's an idea !!!

 

[snorri]

A lack of investment in rail infrastructure, new roads are more of a crowd pleaser than new railways in the UK.

 

[TissoT]

The German train infrastructure is excellent Clean You could set your watch by the way they operate
.
To many fat cats have been taking large profits out the trains system in the UK leaving us behind and a bit of a joke compered to the rest of Europe .

 

[Markymark]

...and look what happens in the media when they try and upgrade it with HS1/2/3 etc

 

[al78]

I would question whether a 4 day mini break is sufficient to properly verify the quality of a rail service. There is a world of difference between going somewhere on holiday and living and working there.

You may want to try asking the same question at this forum http://www.railforums.co.uk/, they will either explain or flame you :-)

 

[Levo-Lon]

They still strike and hold the countries to ransom..ive been cought twice.
i found euro train travel super cheap for first class and on time ,easy to use
i like uk train travel But i travel off peak..makes all the difference..i'd hate to have it for my get to work transport.

 

[jonny jeez]

Because we didn't contribute enough towards their Infastructure (we are fools for a nice low tax promise) and so they were flogged to the private sector to run with microscopic investment and maximum profit.

Soon we shall enjoy the same for the NHS...how jolly.

We just need to accept that public services require public funding and stop voting for the guy in the shiny suit that promises to be a magician who can pay for stuff without asking for the country to foot the bill through taxation.

 

[Cold]

I was in Amsterdam for two months this year and found the trains not much better than the uk.
Amsterdam central can be confusing at times and the trains aren't always clean.

 

[jonny jeez]

I was in Amsterdam for two months this year and found the trains not much better than the uk.
Amsterdam central can be confusing at times and the trains aren't always clean.

I don't like the trains in the netherlands...but then I dont like the trains in London either. Slow, cold, uncomfortable and they insist on stopping at every town to let other people get on and off....its really inconvenient for me.