• HardlightCereal@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Trains aren’t important because they make a lot of money. Trains are important because they make the land around them worth a lot of money. Businesses near train stations get more customers. People pay more for houses near train stations. Cities with strong transit systems have a higher GDP.

    Despite this, England privatised its rail system and expects the rail companies to make a profit. Instead, English people are poorer and the government has less money.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      England privatised its rail system

      I have a dear friend from Docklands in London, who ran trains. We argue constantly about privatisation vs a government-run consolidated service like healthcare. He’s adamant that a mass transit system has to be run as a separate capitalist company, that it must be cash-positive, and that’s the only way to do it.

      He also believes the Tube is overpriced, cramped, sweaty, and a really low value for money that is propped up by people who can’t afford to drive into London nor park once they arrive, and have no other choice.

      • HardlightCereal@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Fun fact: Japan has privatised rail. The reason is works in Japan is that the rail companies own the land around the stations and charge rent on it