A couple of years ago someone signed me up for the Liberal Democrats e-newsletter. I route it to my junk folder, but one email caught my eye.
Subject: Latest news from www.libdems.org.uk
Baker: Some train companies charge three times as much as others ---------------------------------------------- Research by the Liberal Democrats has found that some train companies in the UK are charging almost three times as much per mile as cheaper firms.
Did they really have to research this? Do Liberal Democrats ever travel by train? I’m sure this information has been widely known since the railways were privatised.
Norman Baker, the ‘shadow’ shadow transport secretary (I thought only the largest opposition party had shadows, oh well), claimed it was absolutely disgraceful that a long-distance train co, such as First Great Western would charge more for a journey than Arriva Trains Wales.
Lets inspect those companies a little closer. Arriva Trains Wales has stock of small trains, which travel mostly local routes, serving local communities.
First Great Western operate BIG trains, from places like London to Exeter, Bristol, Cardiff and many other places – their trains are longer, bigger and have more facilities which cost more to upkeep.
Norman has figured out that the Government aren’t interested (neither were the previous Tories, or Blair). That’s because the Government does actually understand the economics of transport, and aren’t just a shadow shadow transport secretary.
Norman is now going to ask the Rail Regulator to investigate. You know what, I really hope they tell him where to go – I mean, if First Great Western passengers are that stupid to pay that price, let them…
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