I just saw this video about how the UK is going to re-nationalise the railways, after having completely liberalised them in 1996.
Even the maintenance of the infrastructure has been liberalised, which in Spain is handled by ADIF (for the moment, because in Catalonia it has just been handed over by the central government to the Generalitat), and which, to no one’s surprise, turns out not to be profitable and the British government has had to intervene again.
In Spain, RENFE used to be in charge of the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. Later, due to a European Railway Package, it was split into Renfe and ADIF. Now, they are going to sell the part of Renfe Mercancías to private companies, after having bought new trains, of course. And in a few years, Public Service Obligations are going to be liberalised, so all the trains that are going to arrive in the coming years (and which Minister Puente never stops boasting about) are likely to be bought for a pittance by private companies like ALSA, known for the terrible conditions for their employees and their expansionist zeal.
I would like to know what you think about this whole issue, since I work in this field and I know what it is and how it works to screw up a public service to then privatize it for a few bucks for colleagues in the private sector. What is your opinion, users?
Posted by GerardoRevilla