Private Rail

60037 · Post by **60037** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:53 pm

I had a thought the other day, (yeah dangerous i know)

Would it actually be possible to set up and run a seperate railway cut-off from the national network at your own speed limits using your own stock. Running both passenger and freight traffic for an operational profit like the former BR?

Are there any laws/ect against it? could it be done.........

Dont get me wrong, it wouldnt be a preserved line, but a seperate railway with business in mind and payed staff.

I wonder if it could be done.......

37714 · Post by **37714** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 pm

Â£Â£Â£

Goingnorth · Post by **Goingnorth** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:59 pm

It can be done and has been done. In effect Heathrow express is run as a 'standalone' operator. Even though it use NR tracks and signalling.

There's also a proposal from Central railways, concerning opening the old GC main line.

I think though you would find that the SRA may stick it's nose in and by law the HMRI have to do inspections. Many preserved railways actually offer 'serious' services. And for all intents and purposes they are commercial railways, in fact more so the rest of the railway network which tends to be subsidised.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:24 pm

The romney, Hythe and Dymchurche narrow gauge railway do - they have a 'school run' train!

yourdomingo · Post by **yourdomingo** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:28 pm

the epping and ongar railway is only allowed to exist because if they ever get going they'll have to run commuter trains.

it would be possible to basically build a new railway network in this country. it's what happened between 1830 and 1900 isn't it, really?

it'd be very, very expensive and unless you were super super super ultra mega rich, you'd need funding from somewhere. it could probably be don without the SRA, but obviously the SRA would be involved.

similar operation is probably Tyne & Wear Metro (though i believe that uses Network Rail tracks for some of it)

snowdon railway? never preserved or nationalised

Goingnorth · Post by **Goingnorth** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 9:20 pm

I don't think it has to be ever so expensive. It never fails to amaze me just how well preserved railways do. There's are loads of them. I just think the 'serious' railway is very bad at managing costs. A lot of the money goes out of compensation costs to TOCs for example for upgrading their network!

Rather than open old lines, it's a shame some of the preservation fraternity don't propose to take over some scenic rural lines and run heritage equipment in the summer.

At present I think the industry is incredibly over regulated, and if anything, that's what's killing it off. It's crazy, because passenger demand has never been higher.

Why the government is so scared of looking at the structure and getting rid of the some of the heavy regulation got only knows. Obviously job creation. Did you know that the SRA has more people working for it the BR HQ did? And, they don't actually run the railway as such.

Anyway, if you fancy having a go at the real thing, join one of the preservation movements.

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:16 am

And then someone comes along and says well done now im taking over goodbye end of story....... Ok it would be nice but really wouldnt last long before the likes of virgin grab hold of it if it makes enough money.

sorry to spoil dreams here.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 9:37 am

I imagine it would be next to impossible to create a second network... It was all very well in the 19th century when there were a lot fewer roads and no other national network... But there'd have to be so many bridges and/or tunnels so that the networks didn't affect each other that a whole seperate network is pretty well a non-starter from the word go.

There you are... Even if money were no object, I doubt very much that it's feasible in this small country. Now if it were the USA or Australia... maybe...

bjdick · Post by **bjdick** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 11:51 am

Apart from that,and considering all the above.You require an act of parliament to open a new rail link,or even to reopen a previously closed link,in some cases.

The only real exeption is if you're a landed gent and want your own railway on your own private land.