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where the privatization of a railroad system has actually worked, in the sense that it improved the service to the public and/or made it more affordable? Is anybody aware of one successful privatization of a railroad anywhere in the world? It's a serious question.

If you can't convince them, confuse them. (Harry S. Truman)
by brainwave on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 at 10:33:37 AM EST
I thought that in Japan it was supposed to be OK. Of course, they did not do separation there.
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 04:07:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I would also be curious about comments from a train rider perspective from Sweden. There, privatisation of the operating part of the state railways isn't yet finished (there is Green Cargo, but there is still SJ), so it can't be viewed as a full model either. On the other hand, viewing what happened so far, there have been some ugly bankrupcies and service problems, and the state still has to spend the big bucks on infrastructure. But I wonder how it looked for passengers.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 04:37:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Seems similar to the situation in the Netherlands, I guess (cargo: privatised, passenger + railway stations: state-owned company to be perhaps privatised, infrastructure: state owned company).

Can't say that the result is ideal, but then it never was.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 05:12:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
In Sweden however, private rail operators took over much more of the passenger services than in the Netherlands. The currently still existing state-owned SJ is a rump.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 05:34:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
There is Japan, and Switzerland doesn't do separation/competition on the same track either. (There is significant parallel service on some lines, say BLS and SBB on the Lötschberg line on which the new base tunnel is, but that is based on agreements between the railways.)

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Mon Sep 24th, 2007 at 04:41:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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