This from the outer reaches of planet Redwood...
The cross country and long haul railway is probably most productively
used for freight. The railway needs to be more interested in single
wagon marshalling and single load business. Rail freight has grown
since privatisation, and there has been improvement in the offer. The
old nationalised industry was only interested in trainload contracts. A
whole generation of new business parks was built with motorway access
instead of branch line connections to the railway as a result.
UPDATE: This from Our Man at 222 Marylebone Road...
Wisconsin Central Lives!
The Vulcan has clearly been talking with EWS founder Ed (all American) Burkhardt who seemed to think that the 'Mom 'n' Pop' shortline operating pholosophy would transform a modern European freight railway.