St Andrews rail link feasibility study published

[EXTspotter]

I thought that the ICE3 was sooooooooo 2009, so we're getting AGVs instead...

[Ameecher]

Given that they are still on semaphores north of Dundee, too!

Still got them south of Dundee at Leuchars and all the way to and including Perth!

[61653]

I certainly think that there's little point in any further wiring up of the ECML until the IEP (or whatever it becomes) arrives, for the simple reason that the current electric intercity ECML fleet is insufficient to operate even the core London-Leeds/Edinburgh services without added HSTs running under the wires. But again, we've been derailed somewhat! I'd hope that the line gets (re-)opened because I'm pro-rail, though I'm surprised Alan suggested FSR might need more 170s rather than some Pendolinos for the service!

[Chris]

Socialist =/= Communist.

People should remember that nearly every European country is socialist. I mean we have the NHS!

I would beg to differ...

Clearly the UK is socialist. It has a tax system which is designed to re-distribute wealth from the rich to the poor, a welfare system to protect the poorest and the NHS provides free healthcare, ergo the UK is a socialist country.

Obviously it isn't communist.

Thus socialist =/=communist.

They are very different things.

[Dave]

So why are ther spending cuts, why do the rich benfit most from this country and why is our PM is Tory that went to Eton? (amoung many other things...)

If you think these are the signs of a non-socialist nation you are incredibly misguided and rather thick.

[Chris]

So why are ther spending cuts, why do the rich benfit most from this country and why is our PM is Tory that went to Eton? (amoung many other things...)

Those are superfluous points, the core ideology underlying the British state is socialist. Unless the government is proposing a flat rate of tax, scrapping the welfare system or the NHS, then it remains socialist. So what if the NHS is re-organized, or spending is cut back, the core principles are socialist.

Edit: Also, what Dave said.

[Chris]

So you are saying that Thathcher was a Socialist?

Yes.

[Dave]

So why are ther spending cuts, why do the rich benfit most from this country and why is our PM is Tory that went to Eton? (amoung many other things...)

If you think these are the signs of a non-socialist nation you are incredibly misguided and rather thick.

So you are saying that Thathcher was a Socialist?

No, I'm not saying they are signs of a socialist nation, I'm saying they're NOT signs of a non-socialist nation.

Where does Thatcher even come into it.

Why don't you go and join another forum and stop p***ing me off?

[Dave]

No, I'm not saying they are signs of a socialist nation, I'm saying they're NOT signs of a non-socialist nation.

Where does Thatcher even come into it.

Why don't you go and join another forum and stop p***ing me off?

What you don't get is that we a far away from being a socialist nation!

But a Tory PM that went to Eton is not a pointer to whether or not we are a socialist nation you dunce.

[Chris]

Even though she privatised the steel, defence, shipbuilding, water, power (and many more) and that she deregulated the econmy and fought the unions?

God know what she would think/say about being accued of being a "Socialist"

I know what she did. Yes she was a b****, but she didn't stop wealth re-distribution through taxes and welfare, which is the core principle of socialism.

[JamieLei]

She cut taxes and welfare, also with helping create a massive wealthy gap!

She also electrified the ECML. I thought you only care about trains? Trains trains trains trains. Whatabout Pendolinos to St Andrews?

[Dave]

Because the railway was costing the government a ton of money.

(Why am I sticking up for Thatcher!? Haha)

[MjD]

I'll be honest I only clicked on the links briefly, but, just because she says something doesn't mean she is saying what she truely believes. It has been known in the past for politicians to lie....

[Chris]

But that does not make her a socialist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okHGCz6xxiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-cgsQXKUvA

I don't care what she said.

Britain has been socialist since Asquith laid the basis for the welfare state in the late 1900s/early 1910s. So far all the governments have either left it alone, slightly modified it or have made additions to it such as the NHS - not one of them has ever proposed the removal of the NHS or benefits which they would do if they were not socialist.

[Dave]

But let look at it this way, I have never come across anything that states the fact that Thacther did anything that was Socialst, not in her policies, what she said and she did not even sing "The Red Flag"

So what? She still maintained already-existing socialist policies (such as the NHS).

[Kevo00]

Let's be fair to Mrs Thatcher, she opposed railway privatisation...

[Chris]

Look you moron, essentially every European is a socialist, and all we see are those to the left and right of socialism. So what if they claim they're not socialist, who cares? They blatantly are. It is irrelevant if they cut spending somewhat, none of them talk about introducing a flat rate of tax for everybody do they? None of them talk about removing state pensions, or jobseeker's allowance or DSA. None of them talk about removing the NHS.

Europe is socialist whether you or anybody else likes it. Most politicians don't associate themselves with socialism because of the Soviets. This doesn't mean that their policies are not socialist, however.

[Hyronymus]

So what? She still maintained already-existing socialist policies (such as the NHS).

But she is not a socialist!

Let's be fair to Mrs Thatcher, she opposed railway privatisation...

At least she had sense to see the many flaws of that idea. Sadly, Major hardly had any sense!

Can we stay on topic for once? And stop editing your posts that often, take more effort in writing your text down before hitting the submit button (like everyone else does).

@Class 165, watch your (and mine) temper. The sun is shining, take a deep breath.

[61653]

... essentially every European is a socialist...

Careful, let's not be confusing 'Social democracy' with 'socialism' (which for some reason is a dirty word in the eyes of the USA)- we don't want the forums being blocked by the CIA in the US!

[doktorhonig]

The cold war is over, they're looking for "subway", "metro" and "bridge" now. They will love our photo contest for sure!