A rant rather than a poem... Ask any Dutchman about the railways and
he'll probably start to swear... When they were state property, all was
well, the trains were clean and went on time. Now that they are a
private company, the trains are dirty and late, or they don't go at
all. If you ever visit Holland and have to catch your plane, don't rely
on the railways...
An iron river streams through wide lowland
But it's waters are murky, full of mud
Stinking and full of vermin, disgusting
The beast no longer moves, its pride has died
Yellow caterpillar with your blue stripes
Once a symbol of progress and of wealth
You are now a symbol of our decline
State control is no longer of this age
Yet you feared the free market just as well
So the corrupted leaders of this land
Made you the monopoly of their friends
Even Yeltsin couldn't have done the same
The West is more corrupt than Russia
You do not care about us, the people
About those who have to travel daily
Never on time and never clean, a shame
You are a foul disgrace for this nation
Oh NS, may some foreigner buy you
I'd prefer the Germans or Belgians
Over this greedy, incompetent bunch |
I agree...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | with the anti-privatisation agenda dear Batty.
This train starts off poetically enough, but gets less so on its journey to the final station. But to terminate with a call for the square 'eaded Hun to re-occupy Holland is a bit over the top, don't ya think?
It is said the Mussolini had the Italian trains running on time, and Hitler did similar for the third reich, but I for one don't fancy the destinations...
Oli
 |
Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | Richard Branson has just lost his train contract with the British government - give him a ring.
With Oli on the poem. Starts better than it finishes - but as you say, more of a rant than a poem.
As for privatisation, it stinks. There's no excuse for bad management, but privitisation is no guarantee of improvement. All it does it allow the government to rape the state of its assets, reject responsibility and line the pockets of the already rich.
Phil the Red. |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | Thanks Oli and Phil.
Oli: The few times I took a train in Germany they were clean and very punctual, even though the distances were much longer.
And recently the Belgian TV had a headline that a train had broken down and was delayed for more than half an hour. Over here such things probably aren't even announced at the stations any more.
It's not very patriotic, but then, public transport clearly seems to be better across the border.
Phil: The NS has bought some lines over in England, so if they're not a mess already, they'll probably be so soon.
Somehow it seems to me privatisation is a guarantee for bad management. Over here it happened with the railways, the television, electricity, the postal services, and so on. They claim that there'll be competition and a free market, but the reality is that some monopolist will simply take over and mess it all up. And besides: If something is state property, that means it belongs to the people. So how can a minister sell what is not his? | HI Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2266 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | I don't remember travelling by train in Holland, but if I did, I don't remember it being awful.
I do remember travelling by train in Germany, and we were so impressed with their punctuality and efficiency.
I often travel by train in England, But i am so used to them being late, and being dirty, that I don't even think about it as being a problem anymore.
But coming from America, where trains are almost unknown these days, I am so pleased that we have a public transport system in this country, which even with its faults, has a great many good things to be said about it. |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | Thanks Jean.
They were privatized somewhwere in the 1990s I think, before then they were OK, and shorty after, they were still OK, but gradually it got worse. Yet indeed, I heard that in England the railways aren't very efficient either.
At least the Germans still have their reputation of "Pünktlichkeit"...
Indeed it's good there is public transport, but then, when I compare it with how it used to be, or how it is in Belgum (which is comparable in size and population density to Holland), I guess it could be improved a lot. |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | Thanks Jean.
They were privatized somewhwere in the 1990s I think, before then they were OK, and shorty after, they were still OK, but gradually it got worse. Yet indeed, I heard that in England the railways aren't very efficient either.
At least the Germans still have their reputation of "Pünktlichkeit"...
Indeed it's good there is public transport, but then, when I compare it with how it used to be, or how it is in Belgum (which is comparable in size and population density to the Netherlands), I guess it could be improved a lot. | Hi
Written by maipenrai (783 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | I used to travel quite a lot from Hannover To Holland by DB and they were tremendous from start to finish, and there was a marked differnce with the service in Germany and the Service In Holland.
Bernie |
Written by woody44 (774 comments posted) 13th July 2007 | Classic example here during the Harrogate show. Traffic was taking hours to reach the showground because of the poor roads leading to the event. Did the rail operator put on extra trains? Only after an outcry, and only when the event was nearly over. And the government keep battering us to travel more on Public transport. Can`t comment too much on the poem but it seems you got your point across forcibly enough in a lyrical way.
cheers
Roger | Point well made
Written by Josie (2777 comments posted) 13th July 2007 | | You have put your point over very well. I must be getting old for I spend a lot of time comparing how things used to be. I remember coming to Breda many years ago, and I think it was on that station that they had little tables lined along the beautifully clean station, all with the cleannest, freshest pure white linen table cloths on them, and the railway station was, in fact, also a lovely restaurant. The trains were so clean and I came back home to tell everyone how dirty our stations and trains were compared to yours. Oh, so it is just memories now like everything else. |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 14th July 2007 | Thanks everyone.
maipenrai: As is probably clear, I think the DB is great. I'm not sure who operates the ICE International, but I have had a look inside and it's quite a contrast with the average intercity train of the NS. The same goes for the Thalys to Paris btw.
woody: Seems public transport in Britain isn't very different from that in the Netherlands then. Here the government too tries to force people into the train by ridiculously high taxes on petrol. Yet it doesn't work, for the NS makes the train ridiculously expensive too.
Josie: I'm afraid it's something of the past indeed. Maybe some little stations in villages might still be that way, but many of those are closed as a result of reorganisations nowadays. I used to enjoy trains. But everything seems to be different now. |
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