>From the press release:


"Passengers' satisfaction with Britain's railway stations has
improved a little in recent years, but remains low for many stations
and for many of the facilities provided at them, according to a report
by the National Audit Office. There are also increasing passenger
capacity pressures at some of the largest stations during peak periods.
There is a gap between rising passenger expectations, and what the
government and the industry can afford and justify as value for money.
But there are also organisational barriers standing in the way of
potential improvements. After previous unsuccessful attempts, the
government has recently begun to address some of these issues and, in
particular, to explore innovative ways of bringing investment into
stations from outside the rail industry."

The full report is at:

http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/05-06/0506132.htm

"Richard"  wrote in message 
news:1121875534.126843.160080@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> >From the press release:
>
> "Passengers' satisfaction with Britain's railway stations has
> improved a little in recent years, but remains low for many stations
> and for many of the facilities provided at them, according to a report
> by the National Audit Office. There are also increasing passenger
> capacity pressures at some of the largest stations during peak periods.
> There is a gap between rising passenger expectations, and what the
> government and the industry can afford and justify as value for money.
> But there are also organisational barriers standing in the way of
> potential improvements. After previous unsuccessful attempts, the
> government has recently begun to address some of these issues and, in
> particular, to explore innovative ways of bringing investment into
> stations from outside the rail industry."
>
> The full report is at:
>
> http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/05-06/0506132.htm
>

One way forward could be to transfer ownership of stations to local 
authorities. After all it is the local authority that benefits from the 
station being there and it's got their name on it!

Paul

"Paul"  wrote in message
news:5KednWmWWZAD8XzfRVnyvw@eclipse.net.uk...

>
> >
> One way forward could be to transfer ownership of stations to local
> authorities. After all it is the local authority that benefits from the
> station being there and it's got their name on it!
>
> Paul
>
>


Interesting suggestion Paul. There are of course 'good' and 'bad' local
authorities ('LAs'). I can imagine some LAs taking this up with relish, but
also one can imagine an LA, faced with a decision between, say, withdrawing
meals on wheels or planned preventative maintenance on stations ditching the
latter. What then if the station becomes unsafe or unfit for use?   Will
there not be pressure from others in the LA (particularly shire counties
where railways are sparse) not to spend money on them? Will they not revert
to blaming central government for not increasing their grant?

PH

"Patrick Hearn"  wrote in message 
news:dc0eim$j9p$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...

>
> "Paul"  wrote in message
> news:5KednWmWWZAD8XzfRVnyvw@eclipse.net.uk...
>>
>> >
>> One way forward could be to transfer ownership of stations to local
>> authorities. After all it is the local authority that benefits from the
>> station being there and it's got their name on it!
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>
> Interesting suggestion Paul. There are of course 'good' and 'bad' local
> authorities ('LAs'). I can imagine some LAs taking this up with relish, 
> but
> also one can imagine an LA, faced with a decision between, say, 
> withdrawing
> meals on wheels or planned preventative maintenance on stations ditching 
> the
> latter. What then if the station becomes unsafe or unfit for use?   Will
> there not be pressure from others in the LA (particularly shire counties
> where railways are sparse) not to spend money on them? Will they not 
> revert
> to blaming central government for not increasing their grant?
>
> PH
>
>

Good points.... I remember reading a book about the history of the railways 
where in many instances the local authority or local landowner insisted on 
the grandest station they could get from the train company as it was a 
matter of civic pride as well as being seen as a gateway from the railway to 
their local community. Compare that to today - what would some local 
stations say about the comminty now? Another point worth making is that it 
is the local authority that mainly polices listed building control over 
Network Rail's many listed buildings. This leads to local authorities 
insisting on sometimes vastly expensive remedial works to stations that 
produce mimimal income to the train company. Would seem sensible to me for 
the LA to manage these buildings.

Paul