The underlying infrastructure is quasi-nationalised in many cases and the private companies sit on top.
For an example look at the big six (largest electricity providers) they all buy electricity from the same place at the effectively the same price, they don't even maintain large parts of their own infrastructure.
The way it was privatised was the worst of all options.
Same with the railways. The companies Joe public interact with don't own the track etc.
It's a truly British solution, what's the worst way? Let's do that.
The underlying infrastructure is quasi-nationalised in many cases and the private companies sit on top.
For an example look at the big six (largest electricity providers) they all buy electricity from the same place at the effectively the same price, they don't even maintain large parts of their own infrastructure.
The way it was privatised was the worst of all options.
Same with the railways. The companies Joe public interact with don't own the track etc.
It's a truly British solution, what's the worst way? Let's do that.