Editorial Bear

Network Rail announces first profit
Monday November 27, 08:48 AM

The firm in charge of Britain's railway tracks and signals has made a profit for the first time in its history.



Network Rail delivered a surplus of £747 million for the six months to September 30, compared with losses of £108 million a year earlier.

The not-for-dividend firm, which replaced Railtrack in 2002, will spend the cash on the rail network.

The results also showed train punctuality for the period averaging at 89.5% - the highest level for seven years.

And around £1.1 billion has been taken out of the cost of operating and maintaining the railway infrastructure in the past two and a half years.

At the same time, a further 7% increase in capital expenditure has seen almost £1.5 billion invested in the network over the last six months.

Oh. My. God.

Can this really be true? Can the British railways have REALLY turned a profit?

Not surprising considering they charge sixty gesmillion quid for a single to London from here.

In France, the railways are subsidised by the government... And run quickly, efficiently and cheaply across the country.

In New York/New Jersey, the railways are a company designed to run cost effectively. And the trains run quickly, efficiently and cheapy across the tri-state area.

So what the bloody hell is wrong with British trains?

This is a start. Hopefully we can get our act together soon.