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Author Topic: Network Rail earmarks 18 major stations for privatisation in bid to tackle debt  (Read 6720 times)
Electric train
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« on: February 21, 2016, 15:12:38 »

This article today http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/network-rail-earmarks-18-major-stations-for-privatisation-in-bid-to-tackle-debt-a6886551.html

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« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2016, 15:27:57 »

I suspect it's not a "Major Station", but several comments I've heard suggest that Network Rail are part owners of Bath BUS Station. Can that be true, and if it is, do our members think it makes sense ...
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« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2016, 15:30:57 »

A Land Registry search costing a few pounds should tell you who owns the land on which Bath Bus Station sits.
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« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2016, 05:57:39 »

I suspect it's not a "Major Station", but several comments I've heard suggest that Network Rail are part owners of Bath BUS Station. Can that be true, and if it is, do our members think it makes sense ...
It used to be the old SW electricity board base before the bus station was built but the land may indeed by owned by the railway.
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« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2016, 08:50:02 »

The image at the top of that article is captioned: "St Pancras railway station in London already retail concession". Not only does that caption not sound like a sentance, I don't think the station pictured looks like St Pancras. It might be Waterloo.

I think selling the stations is a mistake though, since in the long run leasing the retail spaces will generate more funds for Network Rail than selling now for a lump-sum.
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« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2016, 12:32:53 »

Definitely Waterloo (I used to work in the railway offices behind the photographer) Roll Eyes Tongue
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« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2016, 12:38:13 »

Selling stations will almost certainly result in far larger sums being spent to buy them back in a decade or two's time.
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« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2016, 13:31:18 »

I suspect it's not a "Major Station", but several comments I've heard suggest that Network Rail are part owners of Bath BUS Station. Can that be true, and if it is, do our members think it makes sense ...

Bath Bus Station land is wholly owned by First Somerset and Avon Ltd.

See attached.
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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2016, 13:38:13 »

I suspect it's not a "Major Station", but several comments I've heard suggest that Network Rail are part owners of Bath BUS Station. Can that be true, and if it is, do our members think it makes sense ...

Bath Bus Station land is wholly owned by First Somerset and Avon Ltd.

See attached.

Well that's one way to curtail idle speculation!

Meanwhile, Temple Meads is very much on the radar...

Quote
Privatisation looks likely to start earlier through the sale of a number of large stations, though the candidates ripe for private ownership have not yet been identified. Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Manchester Piccadilly and Charing Cross in London are among the properties in this portfolio of bigger stations. Experts and ministers think that managing these stations has distracted Network Rail from its main task of making sure the track works properly and safely.

From The Independent
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« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2016, 14:13:12 »

Virtually all of the top 18 stations have had considerable amounts of public money invested in them, except Bristol Temple Meads.

BTM (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) is scheduled for a major redevelopment to coincide with Electrification, MetroWest and Bristol Arena. Who will pay for this investment if the station is sold? Currently the station has very little potential until redevelopment
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« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2016, 18:39:34 »

The image at the top of that article is captioned: "St Pancras railway station in London already retail concession". Not only does that caption not sound like a sentance, I don't think the station pictured looks like St Pancras. It might be Waterloo.

I think selling the stations is a mistake though, since in the long run leasing the retail spaces will generate more funds for Network Rail than selling now for a lump-sum.

St Pancras will not be in the Network Rail sell off .................. its not theirs to sell belongs to High Speed 1 NR» (Network Rail - home page) just manage it for them, which I guess may well continue with other stations that are sold off 




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2016, 23:50:17 by Chris from Nailsea » Logged

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« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2016, 23:15:00 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
Network Rail plans sale of city stations


Paddington is one of the stations that could go up for sale

Network Rail is considering the sale of a number of the UK (United Kingdom)'s best known railway stations in an effort to shore up its debt-laden balance sheet.

London's Paddington and Waterloo stations and Birmingham New Street are stations that could be put up for sale.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said ^1.8bn could be raised through the sale of 7,500 other properties.

These include freight yards, car parks, arches, depots and spare land.

A spokesman for Network Rail confirmed that financial advisers had been appointed to consult on possible options.

In a statement, Network Rail said: "We are looking to generate some ^1.8bn of funds from our property assets by 2019, enabling us to invest in building a bigger, better railway.

"We're taking a long hard look at which assets, ensuring we keep what we need to grow and expand the railway, but then looking at ways we can realise best value from the rest to reinvest."
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« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2016, 10:03:36 »

History.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16765.0
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2016, 18:09:19 »

Fair comment. I've therefore moved and merged both topics here. Apologies for the duplication. CfN.  Embarrassed
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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