Competition across all industries should give us consumers a better deal, but I'm not aware of any of the industries privatised or introduced to the open market, from the mid-80's onwards, no matter what the promises, that have made things better for consumers.

We all know of these industries and we all know that there are some which have no competition and some where prices seem to be questionable.

Trains - revenue increased, pre-privatisation the figures are there to prove it.
East Coast have set the standard with regard to re-nationalisation and the folly of privatisation.

Whatever our thoughts are following the Beeching Report, we all know about Marples and how he benefitted from some of the decisions.
Car was the king during that period and following the failure to invest in rail following the war - but spending fortunes on the road, there was only going to be one winner. There are all of the socio-economic factors to throw in too.

Looking at the train v car debate now, they are both struggling to cope. Privatisation of the railways hasn't brought in the revenue into Government coffers like we were promised and very few routes have an alternative operator, giving us choice.

If you look at freight, the demand from Port of Tyne to transport imported coal via rail, it is massive. However, the infrastructure heading south to places like Drax can't cope with that demand