Re:Spain will introduce free train travel
by solarkraft on Saturday July 23, 2022 @02:16PM
(#32205968)
> We could increase public spending to run the service, but you won't get more people on the train because it's already full.
Isn't increasing capacity the point of increasing spending?
If you increase spending by building new lines they yes, you increase capacity
If you increase spending to offset a reduction in fares you don't increase capacity
Re:Spain will introduce free train travel
by bobthepanda on Saturday July 23, 2022 @09:40PM
(#32209414)
Not if you’re increasing spending simply to lower out of pocket costs to $0.
That service costs money to run. We could increase public spending to run the service, but you won't get more people on the train because it's already full.
Now how are you going to increase that spending? Raise taxes? Cut other public services? Borrow more? Miraculous "efficiencies" no doubt.
We could make it more cost effective, by building a new line instead, which would carry more people per operational cost. HS2 is this (1000 seats doing the journey in 1 hour for 2 members of staff is 500 seats per person hour, vs 500 seats doing it in 2 hours for 3 members of staff which is 83 seats per personhour, thus staffing costs drop 84%). And that's what we're doing.