Off the rails: train fares in Britain have trebled since privatisation

Demands for the privatisation of Irish rail services should be seen in the context of the privatisation of British Rail, between 1994 and 1997.

Many UK rail fares have trebled since, compared to inflation of 77%. For instance, a two-and-a-half-hour week-day trip from London to Liverpool, booked on the day, costs £80.60 (€115.20) one way. One UK company with offices in Ireland now flies all its managers to Dublin for meetings, as it is cheaper than travelling by train in England.

Far from saving money, privatisation requires greater government subsidies to the UK rail industry than in its state-run days. Average annual subsidies of £1bn in the late 1980s rose to £6bn in 2006-2007.