In Santiago de Compostela, Ryanair revived millions of Euros to fly the London route.
The cost of electricity is subsidised in Spain, I would think the railways get their O/H power cheaper too. too.
I have just posted a link about the possibility of the toll roads going bust. Does everything need government support?

You may have a point. In the UK the government pays out over £20 billion a YEAR in housing benefit alone.
Of course, health, education even the national television service is subsidised.

But shouldn't all this be on another thread?

I was responding to Simon's posting.

I suppose it depends on what you define a a 'public good', that is essential infrastructure,including education and health, that the whole of society needs in order to function.

Of course in some countries that are more 'advanced' than Spain the public good has been sold for the private gain. Why? The answer has been with us for ages, "There's no such thing as society . . ."

The sell off of RENFE's goods service is just the beginning . . .

Regs

Simon

The goods services is not the first thing to be run by a private company on Spanish trains. The Buffet/catering service was the first small step.

The newspaper I often link to has won a price for it's graphical presentation on the train accident in Santiago. Link in Spanish for me that also have the best coverage of this story too.
The sate's solicitor and ADIF have tried to wiggle out of presenting some documents in court. The Judge has refused that request so the documents will have to now be presented.
Link In Spanish.

Hmm, interesting. I had noticed the changes in station cafeterias but hadn't really given tis much thought!

I have very fond memories of the sumptuous cafeterias in some stations, complete with hoards of waiters and barmen all for a handfull of passengers! My favourite was at Portbou, where after a horrendous 24 hour journeuy from London, during which there was no access to food, drink or even water, about a dozen of us ravelling though to Barcelona fell on the Spanish side of the frontier station and literally gorged ourselves - on woman had an eight year old son who was literally fainting form Montpelier onwards, so the rest of us had pooled out meagre supplies of water, meusli bars, etc. to keep the poor chap on his feet - all we really wanted was beer by that time - and we did, oh how we did

Regs

Simon

Sounds superb; unfortunately I have (non) fond memories of a curly sandwich in the UK In one local (to me) train station the cafeteria was closed for months due to the lease begin cocked up.

Spain is to implement big brother to watch over the train drivers. News in Spanish.

Back in the 80's a group of friends and myself went to visit a garden centre in San Martin del Tessorillo, Cadiz.

It was still closed for lunch so we went in the nearest bar for a drink.
On the shelf behind the counter were CURLY SANDWHICHES.

The proprietor approached us and on hearing us speaking English he replied in English and informed us that he had learned his English in a cafeteria at Paddington station.

You can image how we all cracked up.

It is good to know that good old British kitchen was begin taken around Europe.

Observant fellow, he obviously concluded that that was the way we 'natives' liked it!

I guess they were in fact cheese and ham sandwiches ready prepared to become 'toasties'. In Catalonia, where I live, and in some other places these are called bikini's but I know that's not universal around Spain.

A few years ago while touring by motorbike I stopped at a very dicey looking backstreet dive in Ciudad Rodrigo for a much needed snack and saw these on the ubiquitous photographs above the bar and were just what I needed to keep me on the road. Uncertain about whether this term is used thereabouts it was a strange feeling, asking for a 'bikini' from a buxom waitress who was, how can I put it, obviously somewhat needy of some support

Regs

Simon

Staffing news. reducing staff by 36%!
Rajoy and a breakdown.

I was recently in Barcelona and spotted a menu that appeared to suggest that a 'bikini' was available, to those that were up for it! Having now searched it on the internet, I would have liked a "toasted sandwich" ....Well maybe next time.

Michael Portillo to film one of his TV programme "Great Continental Railway Journeys " in Galicia.
News

Was in a Valencian suburb today, ordered a coffee and toastie in yet another ex Spanish, now Chinese bar,(can't be many Spanish left in that area now, surely).
Order arrived, lovely coffee and two ginormous toasties with strawberry jam,
......total 1 euro 30 cents.

Maybe those Chinese aren't so bad after all,..... either that or they're just as bad as the Spanish with their sums.

Hell, drifting off topic a tad, though I'm sure there must be a train connection in there somewhere.