tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093560390959788459.post3712756094534490940..comments2024-03-21T09:29:25.220+00:00Comments on The Financial Crimes: Toot toot, chuff chuffAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775753218753337766noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093560390959788459.post-83346843748516953172012-08-28T18:09:36.043+01:002012-08-28T18:09:36.043+01:00Furthermore, First Group is British registered, wi...Furthermore, First Group is British registered, widely-held, fully-listed in the UK and publishes copious, transparent and verifiable annual financial results, which are subject to scrutiny by analysts, investors and everybody else. It has a conventional management structure, responsible to its investors, and is an established and growing provider of transport in "United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and the United States". <br /><br />Virgin is ... um ... er ... well ... yeah!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093560390959788459.post-42524396583600256382012-08-27T13:05:23.509+01:002012-08-27T13:05:23.509+01:00Ticket prices are determined by the regulator and ...Ticket prices are determined by the regulator and are factored into the bids of all parties (i.e. they work off the same starting price and inflation assumptions and bid on what they can pay for the franchise). First Group reckoned they could provide a better service with more trains and hence afford to outbid Branson for the franchise.<br /><br />You are right that a better approach would be to bid for lowest possible ticket prices and zero franchise payments, but that's politicians for you - ever eager to raise more taxes by the back door.<br />Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13775753218753337766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093560390959788459.post-79688311978305741022012-08-27T11:58:34.427+01:002012-08-27T11:58:34.427+01:00Why is there such a high price for the franchise i...Why is there such a high price for the franchise in the first place? Look at what the very high price of the four G auction got us. A three G system. And then the government give back the money in the form of subsidies. And the result? High ticket prices. <br /><br />What should happen is full privatization or full nationalization, not the current mess of neither.SadButMadLadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17836368722377421009noreply@blogger.com