Cross Country in Trouble?

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

This from The Times:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6150680.ece

Shares of transport operators slammed into reverse on Wednesday after Arriva, the bus and train operator, said it was possible that its CrossCountry rail franchise would need support from the Government.

The Sunderland-based company, which took on the CrossCountry franchise less than two years ago, said that the economic downturn had applied a brake to increases in passenger revenue.

It said that in the first 13 weeks of the year, passenger revenue at CrossCountry was up only 4.5 per cent on the same period last year ^ this compared with revenue growth of 9.7 per cent in the company's Arriva Trains Wales unit.

[Btline]

This is proof that the system is not working.

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) run some of the most crowded routes in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), and yet they need help!

Of course - for most XC users, passenger decreases would be met with a smile.

[devon_metro]

Just seems to sum up the recent budget.

"Lets help businesses"

Oh I know, lets raise fuel duty. GENIUS!

[rogerw]

Is there perhaps customer resistance to their large fare increase in January.  Fares up 11%, revenue up 4.5% equals a signifcant loss of passengers.

[Zoe]

Oh I know, lets raise fuel duty. GENIUS!

In theory it would get people out of cars and onto trains.

[devon_metro]

Oh I know, lets raise fuel duty. GENIUS!

In theory it would get people out of cars and onto trains.

Not so in Torbay. Takes an age to get anywhere unless you drive!

[John R]

Is there perhaps customer resistance to their large fare increase in January.  Fares up 11%, revenue up 4.5% equals a signifcant loss of passengers.

and of course all those journey opportunities for leisure travellers which have now been priced out of their reach by the peak restrictions bumping the fare up by 50%+.

[Btline]

To be honest, a "perfect" budget is not possible! I doubt the Tories would have done anything better/different if they were in power. I trust Brown and Darling to get us out of this problem. At least we get clear messages from them, and not "spin"!

Of course, we shall soon hear the budget response, from Osboune. But "responses" are always flawed; an opposition party can say anything, as they will not have to implement what they say!

D/M, the reason the are making raises like in Fuel Duty is to raise money for the recovery. Brown has stated he does not like tax rises, but he feels they are necessary.

[Timmer]

To be honest, a "perfect" budget is not possible! I doubt the Tories would have done anything better/different if they were in power. I trust Brown and Darling to get us out of this problem. At least we get clear messages from them, and not "spin"!

Of course, we shall soon hear the budget response, from Osboune. But "responses" are always flawed; an opposition party can say anything, as they will not have to implement what they say!

D/M, the reason the are making raises like in Fuel Duty is to raise money for the recovery. Brown has stated he does not like tax rises, but he feels they are necessary.

Ummm lets try and stick to the topic on hand here and leave politics to the many blogs and forums that are available otherwise I might be tempted to air my political views and we wouldn't want that now   

[stebbo]

Not so in Torbay. Takes an age to get anywhere unless you drive!

Or even in Hereford, not that this is NatEx's fault!

As said on another post regarding the North East franchise, renationalise.