Transport Tycoon?

In Portugal, the transport sector is dominated by the State, who owns the only infrastructure railroad company, the only railroad transport company, the major bus companies operating in the major cities, the metro systems, the boat transport in Lisbon, the major airline,… Except for TAP (the airline) that has been worked on to be privatised and that is efficient (far from a good example, but a fair one, never-the-less), all of them are crippled by strategic indefinition, lack of sustainable business models, being a pawn in political games, politically based management teams, unproductive unions, and the list goes on and on… This perfect storm of indefinition has actually driven these companies to be numerous and incredibly inefficient, sinking them into heavy debt – that has to be supported by the State (aka the taxpayers, aka all of us). It is thus urgent for the State to actually start the redefinition of its presence in the transport sector, merging companies, terminating others, streamlining its structures, putting professional and capable managers running them, liberalising prices. And, actually, understanding what role it wants to play in the transport area – which for me, seems quite clear: the State should not own any operator, but should consider staying in the infrastructure area. Those are my 2 cents on the State as a transport tycoon in Portugal.

http://economia.publico.pt/Noticia/divida-das-empresas-publicas-a-banca-subiu-mil-milhoes-de-euros-num-mes-1547164