From the Wiltshire Times


Sadly, I can't disagree with the risk.  Much is unsaid in nationalisation plans - for example there is talk of "a more reliable" service but not of any sort of frequency, and these is talk of a "simplified fare system" without talk of better value / lower fares.

There used to be stats about half the stations generating only 5% of the traffic / income ...

Even though latest quarterly ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) figures show railway as a whole busier than pre-Covid, SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) are still operating some Covid era cuts eg Hounslow loop just half hourly instead of quarter hourly.

It's true that some commuter routes are less busy during school summer holidays, so as per DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) dictat can pare down some routes.   Although using same argument some leisure and beach routes are busier, but don't get enhanced service during summer, so is very one sided argument.

SWR has become a fairly uncomfortable Operator, with a pack them in mentality.  They have reduced first class on 444s to 2+2 seats (even though many services operated are 2+ hour, and some early and late ones 3+ hour).  On commuter services the 2017 ordered 701s have finally entered service replacing 41-44 year old 455s.  701s have just 556 narrow seats, for many years an 8 car 455 had nearer 640 seats.

After a year of nationalisation doesn't appear to be any order for the diesel routes, even though trains already 34-37 years old.

Nationalisation appears to be generic term for make do and mend and expect worst service and comfort.