I mean Arriva operate private train companies here in the UK. Their prices, like the prices of the other private rail companies, are astronomical. Many times that of German trains. But who owns Arriva? Deutsche Bahn does. Take a look at the quality of the trains Deutsche Bahn operates (as I'm sure you do, living in Germany). They're fucking fantastic. Take a look at Arriva or Arriva Wales. 30 year old trains that are barely functioning with a timetable to match.

It really hurts to see countries operating a smooth and desirable service in their home country but charge us more, for less, here. It's not even Arriva's fault, or any of the private-nationally owned rail companies that operate here. The leasing of lines is such a cluster fuck that I can perfectly believe if the government were in charge of the railway system again, they'd surely fuck it up.