Len's Trainset: "A fiscal nightmare"

a fiscal nightmare that would only ever be undertaken by a government or council

The numbers just do not stack up*.

Let's take for example, the following:
250 seat trains
Three trains per hour
Six hours capacity per day
Two commuter train lines
$10 per round trip
246 workdays per year
Using these figures, rush hour commuting can only ever raise up to $22,140,000 of annual revenue.

Finally, some public transport figures that really make sense.

a fiscal nightmare that would only ever be undertaken by a government or council with

 a) too much cash and not enough assets,

 or b) absolutely zero oversight and a borrowing power which doesn't match it's own sense of responsibility

Not considered are the outgoings.

You've now got to pay the train station sh*thouse cleaners, conductors and the drivers a living wage, not to mention the six-figure salaries and perks for council wallahs to run the show. 

No doubt any debt repayments, including interest, for the multi-billion build comes from the same low income.  Sometimes maintenance and spares might be required.  Also there will be the local taniwha to pay on a regular basis to keep them quiet.

As well as the whole package is fuelled somehow.  Or maybe they run on all that free greenie type hot-air so prevalent round these public transport projects.

A lose-lose for poor put upon ratepayers who have to fund Len's fiscal nightmares into eternity.


*numbers are as proposed for newly taxpayer cash rich Village of the Damned, but I guess Len's toy trainset is modelled with similar fiscal restraint.