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#1
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
Why do we have to have an "operator" like on the DLR that will inevitably
suck away some of the money to its shareholders? Are TfL not capable of operating a fairly simple system like crossrail itself when it manages perfectly ok operating the much larger underground? (Yes I know technically LU is a seperate organisation but in reality its just a division of TfL). -- Spud |
#2
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
On Monday, July 21, 2014 10:31:00 AM UTC+1, wrote:
Why do we have to have an "operator" like on the DLR that will inevitably suck away some of the money to its shareholders? Are TfL not capable of operating a fairly simple system like crossrail itself when it manages perfectly ok operating the much larger underground? (Yes I know technically LU is a seperate organisation but in reality its just a division of TfL). -- Spud I would guess that it has as much to do with the government's fear of state owned industry as with anything else. Although that fact that it is OK for German and Dutch state railways to run services over here does indicate a lack of consistency. |
#3
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
I would guess that it has as much to do with the government's fear of
state owned industry as with anything else. Although that fact that it is OK for German and Dutch state railways to run services over here does indicate a lack of consistency. I suggest it is competitive tendering which underlies the approach and, while the merits of that are of course debatable, it applies eqaully to German and Dutch bidders who are state owned as it does to others. (There is the issue of State aid which might give them competitive advanatage but we must hope our friendly EU Commission polices that.) -- Robin reply to address is (meant to be) valid |
#4
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
On Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:16:37 +0100, Paul Corfield
wrote: On Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:31:00 GMT, d wrote: Why do we have to have an "operator" like on the DLR that will inevitably suck away some of the money to its shareholders? Are TfL not capable of operating a fairly simple system like crossrail itself when it manages perfectly ok operating the much larger underground? (Yes I know technically LU is a seperate organisation but in reality its just a division of TfL). snip good stuff Did you just say "TfL runs the Underground perfectly OK"? if so then where is real Spud / Boltar? We clearly have an imposter. ;-) That last one is a really good point. If TfL did run it, Spultar would be the first one to attack every detail of what it did, lamenting its gross incompetence in all respects. |
#5
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
On Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:14:07 +0100, "Robin" wrote:
I would guess that it has as much to do with the government's fear of state owned industry as with anything else. Although that fact that it is OK for German and Dutch state railways to run services over here does indicate a lack of consistency. I suggest it is competitive tendering which underlies the approach and, while the merits of that are of course debatable, it applies eqaully to German and Dutch bidders who are state owned as it does to others. (There is the issue of State aid which might give them competitive advanatage but we must hope our friendly EU Commission polices that.) The winner, MTR, is of course 76.5% owned by the Hong Kong government. |
#6
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
On 21/07/2014 11:26, Piatkow wrote:
On Monday, July 21, 2014 10:31:00 AM UTC+1, wrote: Why do we have to have an "operator" like on the DLR that will inevitably suck away some of the money to its shareholders? Are TfL not capable of operating a fairly simple system like crossrail itself when it manages perfectly ok operating the much larger underground? (Yes I know technically LU is a seperate organisation but in reality its just a division of TfL). I would guess that it has as much to do with the government's fear of state owned industry as with anything else. Although that fact that it is OK for German and Dutch state railways to run services over here does indicate a lack of consistency. Effectively, a foreign government operates here as a private company. It is not "the government" and in particular, it cannot tax the British in order to subsidise its operations. Of course, it *might* be tempted to tax its own people, wherever they are, in order to subsidise its UK operation, but that isn't something which we have to worry about. |
#7
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
On Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:53:47 +0100, JNugent
wrote: On 21/07/2014 11:26, Piatkow wrote: On Monday, July 21, 2014 10:31:00 AM UTC+1, wrote: Why do we have to have an "operator" like on the DLR that will inevitably suck away some of the money to its shareholders? Are TfL not capable of operating a fairly simple system like crossrail itself when it manages perfectly ok operating the much larger underground? (Yes I know technically LU is a seperate organisation but in reality its just a division of TfL). I would guess that it has as much to do with the government's fear of state owned industry as with anything else. Although that fact that it is OK for German and Dutch state railways to run services over here does indicate a lack of consistency. Effectively, a foreign government operates here as a private company. It is not "the government" and in particular, it cannot tax the British in order to subsidise its operations. Of course, it *might* be tempted to tax its own people, wherever they are, in order to subsidise its UK operation, but that isn't something which we have to worry about. The key thing is that it's completely independent of the DfT, so mistakes won't be covered up or excused in the way that they sometimes are in purely public sector organisations. And because the limited-life franchises are awarded competitively, public sector-style waste and inefficiency is much less likely. |
#8
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
The winner, MTR, is of course 76.5% owned by the Hong Kong government.
I *think* State aid by HK to MTR would be contrary to WTO agreements but the remainder of my life is so short I fear such things shall forever remain arcana to me ;( -- Robin reply to address is (meant to be) valid |
#9
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
I expect the Dft and Treasury would rather commit corporate harikiri
than allow TfL to create a full in house operation. And see Crossrail renamed as the "Bob Crow Memorial Line"? -- Robin reply to address is (meant to be) valid |
#10
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Why can't TfL run crossrail themselves?
"Robin" wrote:
The winner, MTR, is of course 76.5% owned by the Hong Kong government. I *think* State aid by HK to MTR would be contrary to WTO agreements but the remainder of my life is so short I fear such things shall forever remain arcana to me ;( I don't think MTR would deliberately set out to need a subsidy from the HK government, but if it ends up losing money on Crossrail, then the HK government would be effectively covering three quarters of it. But MTR does seem to be a competent metro operator that could be expected to do a good job, as it has in LOROL. Personally, I'm all for being able to benefit from international competition, including from foreign rail and metro operators. |
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