[QUOTE="Steve Parry"] What? .. Like the rail system :o)[/QUOTE] IMO the problem with railtrack and other infrastructure type monopolies is that there is not real competition which would drive down prices and increase efficiency so a government body is set up to regulate them and then you get the worst of both worlds, an industry which is subject to the whims of politicians and needs to make a profit to satisfy the shareholders. This leads to a lack of long-term investment and short term profiteering, as the companies involved don't know what the politicians will do next and so don't make long-term plans.
