@@DropdudeJohn Yes it did, and just like it is now, government underfunding was the main problem with the railways back then, but now not only are we the tax payer still paying for it through tax subsidies and insane ticket prices, but on top of that most of the money made from all that is siphoned off into shareholder dividens and into the hands of foreign states, who own 70% plus of our once owned Uk eailways, but now the networking is being undefunded by the private sector worse then it was when it was nationalised, but hey, the daily h8spress told you the ond days were bad, so it must be true. lol
I've just travelled half way across Europe on 2 trains, clean,efficient, fast and on time,getting back home from London, a relatively short journey, was an example of how privatisation and weak regulation combine to form pure misery and a lousy experience, it's a total failure, like 13 years of this government and it needs remedying fast.
The worsening of living conditions caused a railway strike. The government does not make a deal on the pretext of not increasing inflation despite the loss of millions of pounds. Unfortunately, the government does not want to improve the living conditions of the workers.
Very well analyzed I have had similar experiences. To be honest Mick Lynch spoke a lot of truth about the railways during interviews with the tv stations. Huge amount of profit leaving the country from the operator's and services diluted.
For more than 20 years I have been trying to arrive or leave Rugby to and from destinations around the UK and even into mainland Europe. In the last decade or so the service has become less reliable, more expensive, more crowded and more unpleasant. I have travelled to Penzance and to Thurso, to Anglesey, Fort William, Oban and Inverness: to Harwich and to Edinburgh, to London and to Bristol, to Liverpool and to Europe via the eurotunnel and many, many places in between. It is unfortunate but these days we have submitted to the disasterous state of the railways (thanks tories) and bought a car. We last owned a car in the year 2000. Thais is just one legacy of the tories 13 years of austerity, division, greed and hate. We could talk about gas and electricity, the NHS, schools, the police, the fire brigade, the state of the roads, libraries or even record attendances at foodbanks. How about the cost of living crisis too? Pick a subject Tim and we can rightfully and justifiably shred the tories without exception but regardless of the huge and critical damage done to the UK and the people of the UK by the tories people are still selfish enough to vote for them.
When you travel north the buffet car has only chip butties and broon ale. When you travel south you are invited to amuse-bouche, fine wines and A la Carte. 😂
I asked for a ticket from Huddersfield to Bridlington, the extremely frustrated (but pleasant) ticket officer laughed saying good luck, I like a chap who enjoys a challenge. A space hopper would have been quicker
Hey Tim. I studied in Manchester University about 8 years ago and i during christmas would travel back south to my home. I can tell you the train services were bad even back then. This really goes to show how much a waste of time and money HS2 is when the trainline and companies cannot even get the basics right. Imagine the difference to public transport in the North of England with the investment HS2 had, it would be much better thats for certain.
I worked for British Rail when I left school this was in the early,70's and it was falling apart then, privatisation has only made it worse so now it barely functions. Other countries where they have a good rail network are funded by the government for a very good reason, until we go back to this nothing will change.
Slow down, keep calm, enjoy the movement of train, look out of the window, dip into a book, feel the now... and experience the now. Simples! The only thing Portillo got right. ❤
Och Prof if that’s all you have got to worry about, when people are going hungry, mortgages are going through the roof and pensioners are scared to put on their kettles for a cup of tea to save on energy then rubbish train journeys into the heart of darkness should be a cakewalk.
He has more to worry about and does as is demonstrated every day but the Railway's situation can't be discounted under any circumstances; it's just one of a series of woefully mismanaged issues making life crappy for too many people whether that issue be food, housing, transport, health, interest rates, falling earnings, inflation or even all of them heaped onto one particular and unfortunate individual.
@@davidbarrett1006 I was just winding the Prof up a wee bit and I think he is aware of that, but to reassure you I admire Tim for his incredible intellect, his fantastic work ethic and his ability to see both sides of an argument, a very rare quality indeed these days. Thanks for your input though which is much appreciated.
I agree it's a misery, travelled 'up' to London recently, first train late so missed the change at B'Ham New street to Moor street, no Wifi & no charging, no caf either and took forever!
"Our trains need overhauling", you say, Tim. From many ordinary people's point of view, it's the pocket-stuffing privatised rail company executives who need overhauling; preferably naked and over hot coals.
Same happened to me on Saturday from Kings X ..people everywhere passengers sitting in doorways, floor space, no seats and this was at 9 am in the morning ..
Don't worry, when the WEF gets its way we will all live in 15 minute cities so you won't be allowed to go anywhere unless you walk and there won't be anyone in the countryside to visit anyway.
Arriva, German I believe, have decided to axe services which have a large number of concessionary passengers on in Tees Valley inorder to extort from local councils more money. One my only service into town. Taking back control I guess.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you can’t make a phone call anywhere in Rugby! It’s a strange hinterland where they probably practice human sacrifice and listen to The Eagles all day, ‘Hotel California’ where you can check out but never leave. They call Rugby a rail junction. I think it’s a terminus.
_Any_ travel round the southern half our island is miserable. There are simply too many people. I used to regularly drive from Cardiff to Leicester in the 1980s and it was actually fun. It's completely miserable now. And dont get me started on driving round London ...
Thats awful Tim U must be suffering why decide to go on a train u should catch a boat and get the service of your lifetime , sorry for that one hope at least u get a drink or 2 tell us when reached your destination, so old milktrains are backwhat a country and refuges think they came to heaven, have a nice week ,
Last week i di 2 journeys with Avanti. London glasgow return .no problem at all .with wifi.saw staff one to check the ticket .all very pleasant .was i just lucky?
You can at least claim some or all over your ticket price back if you're delayed. On the other hand if you're delayed stuck in traffic you cannot claim anything back. I used to regularly get the train up north from Kings Cross. I used to leave enough time to buy some beers to keep me company while I waited for the train. Part of me always wanted to stay and people watch.
The CEOs of the *foreign-owned* train companies have been paying themselves large salaries and huge bonuses for years, and the shareholders have been the beneficiaries of significant dividends. Meanwhile, some lines have been cancelling scheduled journeys at an incredibly high rate, because they don't have enough drivers to cover the weekends properly. Clearly, obviously, there is virtually no competition between the train companies, so what is the justification for them remaining privately owned? It is the same situation with the water companies, which are, again, mainly foreign owned and don't operate competitively. With both the trains and water, the service is appalling!
Ha ha! No doubt you caught the worst train in Britain too! A voyager! Cramped, uncomfortable, airline seats in the main! They are utterly utterly vile! Also often overcrowded and air con fails! The buffet or caffe is often miles away through a packed train. I used to travel a lot on cross country! They are truly truly awful! The thing that confused you was that because a stopping service probably between Bristol and Birmingham was not running, they will have got the so called “Express service” to stop at intermediate stops to cover for that missing service! Thus adding to the overcrowding and stress! Standard class passengers are no more than cattle to the train companies! In fact cattle get treated better!
*OF COURSE ITS MISERY - NORTHERNERS LIVE UP NORTH* and they are not counted as people by the Tory government so ZERO investment goes into the North and Southerners have no reason to go into the heart of darkness above Watford. You want to try growing up in the North, I assure you your life would have taken a VERY different path if you had.
I remember the slogan “ease the strain, go by train”. Not sure things were brilliant under British Rail, (so many jokes about curly BR sandwiches), and Beeching has a lot to answer for, But lucky you going “oop narth”. As we get older we don’t like all the faffing about so it could be just part of the Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. Have a good time!
I wouldn't ride on any train or bus in this country today without a holstered gun. When you learn about social conditions in our towns and cities,travelling unarmed seems dangerously negligent.
Two consecutive Euston to Birmingham trains cancelled this afternoon Tim, so not much better in the south or midlands. The reason? Insufficient train crew!
Prof, may I be nosey please? How much did it cost you to get to Leeds and back? I haven't travelled by train for years, tbough my best friend regularly travels from north Wales to Leeds and that costs her a King's ransom. I would be genuinely grateful to know. I pay a small fortune to keep a car on the road but that is cheap compared to public transport. The only element of public transport which is any good here in Blackpool is the tram, and that is only because it is used primarily by our wonderful visitors. Everything else here is an unaffordable basket case.
Trans Pennie express worse cancel service,s for no reason could be more strike,s in july but i disagre mate my uncle work,s as signal worker national rail on 60,000 year care worker,s get less like mick lynch is saying railway is more important than nhs worker,s but ever since great British railway went never been same alway,s delayed cancelled and ticket price,s are rediculasly high
Spoken like a loyal employee of the State. However, I regret to inform you that raising pay is not a magic solution that will miraculously improve a surly disposition or truculent attitude. But at least I suppose you can't blame these on Brexit.
Trust me, if your pay goes up then it will improve people's disposition. Especially for the vast majority who live in worry or even fear of how they will pay their mortgages next year, let alone utilities and food.
Though the approach and attitude of the present public administration how their decisions to deal with, treat and respect the position and concerns of those in that sector as well as other sectors is also significant reason in the now intial circumstances
So much for privatisation.
@@DropdudeJohn Yes it did, and just like it is now, government underfunding was the main problem with the railways back then, but now not only are we the tax payer still paying for it through tax subsidies and insane ticket prices, but on top of that most of the money made from all that is siphoned off into shareholder dividens and into the hands of foreign states, who own 70% plus of our once owned Uk eailways, but now the networking is being undefunded by the private sector worse then it was when it was nationalised, but hey, the daily h8spress told you the ond days were bad, so it must be true. lol
It's the lack of investment that's the problem.
@@DropdudeJohn Indeed it did and the profits were not being stolen from the British people.
The Tories have done so well 'leveling up' the north after Brexit as they promised.
Yes it now looks like Jaywick
what happened to the industrial corridor across the Pennines, from leeds to liverpool.
I've just travelled half way across Europe on 2 trains, clean,efficient, fast and on time,getting back home from London, a relatively short journey, was an example of how privatisation and weak regulation combine to form pure misery and a lousy experience, it's a total failure, like 13 years of this government and it needs remedying fast.
I think the other commuters were a little perplexed to see Santa Claus talking to himself. 😁
😂😂
@@Puddlesmolly
“Ooh look Gladys it’s one of those posh Southerners who are always talking to themselves”.
The worsening of living conditions caused a railway strike. The government does not make a deal on the pretext of not increasing inflation despite the loss of millions of pounds. Unfortunately, the government does not want to improve the living conditions of the workers.
That's no reason to take it out on innocent passengers.
Very well analyzed
I have had similar experiences. To be honest Mick Lynch spoke a lot of truth about the railways during interviews with the tv stations. Huge amount of profit leaving the country from the operator's and services diluted.
For more than 20 years I have been trying to arrive or leave Rugby to and from destinations around the UK and even into mainland Europe. In the last decade or so the service has become less reliable, more expensive, more crowded and more unpleasant.
I have travelled to Penzance and to Thurso, to Anglesey, Fort William, Oban and Inverness: to Harwich and to Edinburgh, to London and to Bristol, to Liverpool and to Europe via the eurotunnel and many, many places in between. It is unfortunate but these days we have submitted to the disasterous state of the railways (thanks tories) and bought a car. We last owned a car in the year 2000.
Thais is just one legacy of the tories 13 years of austerity, division, greed and hate. We could talk about gas and electricity, the NHS, schools, the police, the fire brigade, the state of the roads, libraries or even record attendances at foodbanks. How about the cost of living crisis too?
Pick a subject Tim and we can rightfully and justifiably shred the tories without exception but regardless of the huge and critical damage done to the UK and the people of the UK by the tories people are still selfish enough to vote for them.
When you travel north the buffet car has only chip butties and broon ale. When you travel south you are invited to amuse-bouche, fine wines and A la Carte. 😂
Lol 😂
The trains have been like this for years.
I asked for a ticket from Huddersfield to Bridlington, the extremely frustrated (but pleasant) ticket officer laughed saying good luck, I like a chap who enjoys a challenge. A space hopper would have been quicker
Hey Tim. I studied in Manchester University about 8 years ago and i during christmas would travel back south to my home. I can tell you the train services were bad even back then. This really goes to show how much a waste of time and money HS2 is when the trainline and companies cannot even get the basics right. Imagine the difference to public transport in the North of England with the investment HS2 had, it would be much better thats for certain.
I worked for British Rail when I left school this was in the early,70's and it was falling apart then, privatisation has only made it worse so now it barely functions. Other countries where they have a good rail network are funded by the government for a very good reason, until we go back to this nothing will change.
Welcome to the North and enjoy our selection of boarded up shops and empty marketplaces. The train journey is all part of experience of Tory Britain😊
Tory Britain 2010 - 2023; everything has turned to shite...
Sorry to hear you had an awful journey. But looking on the bright side at least you weren't attacked and robbed. 😁
Slow down, keep calm, enjoy the movement of train, look out of the window, dip into a book, feel the now... and experience the now. Simples! The only thing Portillo got right. ❤
You probably remember professor the days when the trains ran on time and it was a cheap method of transport.
Och Prof if that’s all you have got to worry about, when people are going hungry, mortgages are going through the roof and pensioners are scared to put on their kettles for a cup of tea to save on energy then rubbish train journeys into the heart of darkness should be a cakewalk.
He has more to worry about and does as is demonstrated every day but the Railway's situation can't be discounted under any circumstances; it's just one of a series of woefully mismanaged issues making life crappy for too many people whether that issue be food, housing, transport, health, interest rates, falling earnings, inflation or even all of them heaped onto one particular and unfortunate individual.
@@davidbarrett1006
I was just winding the Prof up a wee bit and I think he is aware of that, but to reassure you I admire Tim for his incredible intellect, his fantastic work ethic and his ability to see both sides of an argument, a very rare quality indeed these days. Thanks for your input though which is much appreciated.
I agree it's a misery, travelled 'up' to London recently, first train late so missed the change at B'Ham New street to Moor street, no Wifi & no charging, no caf either and took forever!
"Our trains need overhauling", you say, Tim. From many ordinary people's point of view, it's the pocket-stuffing privatised rail company executives who need overhauling; preferably naked and over hot coals.
I feel sorry for you Prof Tim. Unfortunately all part of #BrokenBritain
Same happened to me on Saturday from Kings X ..people everywhere passengers sitting in doorways, floor space, no seats and this was at 9 am in the morning ..
living up north is a misery 😂 🙌
Don't worry, when the WEF gets its way we will all live in 15 minute cities so you won't be allowed to go anywhere unless you walk and there won't be anyone in the countryside to visit anyway.
I LIVE in a 15 minute city and its AMAZING and you are just a very stupid person with a tiny conspiracy-filled mind
Stop listening to right wing propaganda
@@JerryCans101 Fine thanks. I got on the bus in Crimea three days ago and there are just 4,000 miles left to do on my way to Kamchatka.
Arriva, German I believe, have decided to axe services which have a large number of concessionary passengers on in Tees Valley inorder to extort from local councils more money. One my only service into town. Taking back control I guess.
Mick Lynch proven correct.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you can’t make a phone call anywhere in Rugby! It’s a strange hinterland where they probably practice human sacrifice and listen to The Eagles all day, ‘Hotel California’ where you can check out but never leave. They call Rugby a rail junction. I think it’s a terminus.
You will have to get yourself a horse!
I think Tim would make the most splendid and dapper highwayman
It is a misery to be enjoyed in comparison to driving a car.
_Any_ travel round the southern half our island is miserable. There are simply too many people. I used to regularly drive from Cardiff to Leicester in the 1980s and it was actually fun. It's completely miserable now. And dont get me started on driving round London ...
Thats awful Tim U must be suffering why decide to go on a train u should catch a boat and get the service of your lifetime , sorry for that one hope at least u get a drink or 2 tell us when reached your destination, so old milktrains are backwhat a country and refuges think they came to heaven, have a nice week ,
Last week i di 2 journeys with Avanti. London glasgow return .no problem at all .with wifi.saw staff one to check the ticket .all very pleasant .was i just lucky?
You can at least claim some or all over your ticket price back if you're delayed. On the other hand if you're delayed stuck in traffic you cannot claim anything back. I used to regularly get the train up north from Kings Cross. I used to leave enough time to buy some beers to keep me company while I waited for the train. Part of me always wanted to stay and people watch.
That must be real misery for all the travellers, having YOU as a fellow passenger
The CEOs of the *foreign-owned* train companies have been paying themselves large salaries and huge bonuses for years, and the shareholders have been the beneficiaries of significant dividends.
Meanwhile, some lines have been cancelling scheduled journeys at an incredibly high rate, because they don't have enough drivers to cover the weekends properly.
Clearly, obviously, there is virtually no competition between the train companies, so what is the justification for them remaining privately owned?
It is the same situation with the water companies, which are, again, mainly foreign owned and don't operate competitively.
With both the trains and water, the service is appalling!
You poor old thing, Tim.
Travelling up north north is a nightmare. however, you get there. Lol.
Ha ha! No doubt you caught the worst train in Britain too! A voyager! Cramped, uncomfortable, airline seats in the main! They are utterly utterly vile! Also often overcrowded and air con fails! The buffet or caffe is often miles away through a packed train. I used to travel a lot on cross country! They are truly truly awful!
The thing that confused you was that because a stopping service probably between Bristol and Birmingham was not running, they will have got the so called “Express service” to stop at intermediate stops to cover for that missing service! Thus adding to the overcrowding and stress! Standard class passengers are no more than cattle to the train companies! In fact cattle get treated better!
Sorry 😢 bad day I would board a train packed after reading what’s happening under the sea right now
its GRIM UP NORTH LAD.
Avoid getting transport for Wales trains at all cost.
*OF COURSE ITS MISERY - NORTHERNERS LIVE UP NORTH* and they are not counted as people by the Tory government so ZERO investment goes into the North and Southerners have no reason to go into the heart of darkness above Watford.
You want to try growing up in the North, I assure you your life would have taken a VERY different path if you had.
Unfortunate
I regard myself as a Northerner so this makes little sense.
@@ProfessorTimWilson - I thought you were from Oxford Tim..?
Nothing has changed! The same issues existed in the 1970's.
By the way... why did you use the word 'north' ? Is travelling South better?
I remember the slogan “ease the strain, go by train”. Not sure things were brilliant under British Rail, (so many jokes about curly BR sandwiches), and Beeching has a lot to answer for, But lucky you going “oop narth”. As we get older we don’t like all the faffing about so it could be just part of the Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. Have a good time!
Can't help you there, we drive every whare. Maybe a cab is worth, not having a headache .
I wouldn't ride on any train or bus in this country today without a holstered gun. When you learn about social conditions in our towns and cities,travelling unarmed seems dangerously negligent.
Two consecutive Euston to Birmingham trains cancelled this afternoon Tim, so not much better in the south or midlands. The reason? Insufficient train crew!
...isn't it just...
Just drive instead 😂
I do not drive
Prof, may I be nosey please? How much did it cost you to get to Leeds and back? I haven't travelled by train for years, tbough my best friend regularly travels from north Wales to Leeds and that costs her a King's ransom. I would be genuinely grateful to know. I pay a small fortune to keep a car on the road but that is cheap compared to public transport. The only element of public transport which is any good here in Blackpool is the tram, and that is only because it is used primarily by our wonderful visitors. Everything else here is an unaffordable basket case.
Shame the cricket's at Birmingham.
Are you saying it's grim up north prof ?😂😂
not remotely. the grim bit is the train
@@ProfessorTimWilson you should visit Liverpool. Great city
God help you if you need porterage you are doomed !
Trans Pennie express worse cancel service,s for no reason could be more strike,s in july but i disagre mate my uncle work,s as signal worker national rail on 60,000 year care worker,s get less like mick lynch is saying railway is more important than nhs worker,s but ever since great British railway went never been same alway,s delayed cancelled and ticket price,s are rediculasly high
I guess for this adventure you arrived in the real world ...maybe you should venture out and about more often.... 🙏
Shut up Nobby, finish your Black Pudding. 😃
Spoken like a loyal employee of the State. However, I regret to inform you that raising pay is not a magic solution that will miraculously improve a surly disposition or truculent attitude. But at least I suppose you can't blame these on Brexit.
Confirmation, if it was ever needed, that the billions spent on HS2 are a complete waste of our money. 😀
Trust me, if your pay goes up then it will improve people's disposition. Especially for the vast majority who live in worry or even fear of how they will pay their mortgages next year, let alone utilities and food.
Though the approach and attitude of the present public administration how their decisions to deal with, treat and respect the position and concerns of those in that sector as well as other sectors is also significant reason in the now intial circumstances
@@SmilingStaffyLensLane ?