DB taking over the world (or just the UK)

[Ameecher]

The German State railways have not only bought out EWS a few months back but have recently been confirmed as successful bidders for Laing Rail.
Who are Laing Rail?
The lot who run Chiltern, have a 50% stake in London Overground and quite a bit to do with WSMR (Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway).
It seems that nothing is changing though. No job cuts and the management is remaining the same. Just DB expanding their portfolio it would seem.

[Ploes]

.... quite a bit to do with WSMR (Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway)....

I wonder if DB are then going to seek to buy the other half of WSMR from Renaissance Trains Ltd?

[jvassie]

So DB are running my local railway? Sweet...

[Ploes]

Its nothing to get to hyped about.

Not unless they suddenly electrify the whole Chiltern Line, and restore all fast lines at High Wycombe and Beacondsfield etc.

London to Birmingham in an ICE train would be impressive!

[jvassie]

Well yeah, i mean a few improvements id like to see would be:

*Electrification
*Fast tracks restored at High Wycombe and Beaconsfield (amongst others)
*Restoration of line from High Wycombe to Bourne End through Loudwater.
*Get rid of the old noisy 165's, the Clubmans are lovely, the old ones are very loud though.

I mean service wise theyre already impeccable. Just a couple of things to consider maybe.

[Kevo00]

Well, they have to gain other assets to diversify their portfolio for when they no longer have state protection.

Germany already has some rail competition under EU liberalization but DB may expect more after full privatization.

[Ploes]

*Restoration of line from High Wycombe to Bourne End through Loudwater.

I know a while back there was an idea in the Bucks Free Press to do that as light rail, since to much of the Bourne End end of the line has been developed. I know there is enough space behind what was the Wycombe Arts, now flats, to accommodate two more lines of track. The other idea for this was to use it as an express bus lane.

Since I've moved away from the area I've heard nothing. I thought the bus lane was a good idea, since you could share that with light rail / tram.

All pipe dreams, its taken them 20 years to start to redo the town center! (using the same company that built the new Wembley Statidum.....)

As a side note:
If you think the 165s are bad, have you been on the 121?
DB on the for front of Rail Technology with ICE-Ts now own a class 121!

[The Irish]

Well, they have to gain other assets to diversify their portfolio for when they no longer have state protection.

Germany already has some rail competition under EU liberalization but DB may expect more after full privatization.

I still have the hope that this full privatization will not come, at least not for passenger transport. I still don't see any personal benefit in it, except a timetable and ticket pricing chaos...
For Freight, it is a different story. Allready today, there is a lot of competitors running around.

[teccuk]

I'm still aghast that after the UK experience any western european country is seriously still considering privatisation...

[hippeebus]

Well, they have to gain other assets to diversify their portfolio for when they no longer have state protection.

Germany already has some rail competition under EU liberalization but DB may expect more after full privatization.

Bah, typical EU. DB is one of the best rail companies in the world. Do you really want to end up with the privatised shambles of the UK rail system, where profit comes above passanger comfort?

[The Irish]

Unfortunately, it seams Germany is allready a good bit on the way to this.
There is practically no train running in the Bonn/Cologne/Ruhr area, which is not late. All of my last couple of journeys, there was at least one train late which made me worry about my connections. And trains with up to 4 mins delay are not even counted as late...

[Toni Babelony]

There is practically no train running in the Bonn/Cologne/Ruhr area, which is not late.

Oh boy... I can tell...

I've read somewhere the DB has one of the worst records of western-Europe on running trains on time. Good luck UK!

[Donoteat]

I always knew DB was going to take over the world some day...

[Ploes]

I've read somewhere the DB has one of the worst records of western-Europe on running trains on time. Good luck UK!

Thats funny when Chiltern Railways has the best punctuality of any UK Mainland Train Line!