Bevan Price
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 7,320
Being controversial:
(a). There is a decision to make - do the railways exist to make profits for (mainly) bus companies, or do they exist as a means to encourage as many people as possible to use public transport rather than cars. ? I think the two aims are mutually incompatible.
(b). I would prefer the latter model, which I realise no foreseeable government is likely to adopt. My suggestions refer to my preferred model. so,
1. Increase overall standard class capacity by abolishing first class. Only a small fraction of trains utilise a lot of first class. Is it really worth the costs of providing and operating so much space that is under-utilised for most of the day ? On the WCML for example, it would create another 200 to 250 standard class seats on every Pendolino, solving many of the capacity problems (and reducing the need for HS2)
2. Return to simple distance-based fares system, set as low as reasonably practicable without bankrupting the country. And a single national definition of peak hours (e.g. departures before 09:15 on Monday to Friday)
3. As far as possible, timetables to be set according to passenger needs rather than operating convenience. So, for example, Sunday services outside London would be increased during shopping hours. Trains timed to allow workers to commute to/from major centres - instead of, for example, the final Leeds - Lancaster/Morecambe departure being before 17:00
4. Abolish passenger charters and compensation for late running; instead, there would be a requirement to hold connections for up to 10-15 minutes on lines with hourly services or less - and more for "last connection of day" - unless a check is made with conductor of the late running train to confirm no passengers require the connection.
(a). There is a decision to make - do the railways exist to make profits for (mainly) bus companies, or do they exist as a means to encourage as many people as possible to use public transport rather than cars. ? I think the two aims are mutually incompatible.
(b). I would prefer the latter model, which I realise no foreseeable government is likely to adopt. My suggestions refer to my preferred model. so,
1. Increase overall standard class capacity by abolishing first class. Only a small fraction of trains utilise a lot of first class. Is it really worth the costs of providing and operating so much space that is under-utilised for most of the day ? On the WCML for example, it would create another 200 to 250 standard class seats on every Pendolino, solving many of the capacity problems (and reducing the need for HS2)
2. Return to simple distance-based fares system, set as low as reasonably practicable without bankrupting the country. And a single national definition of peak hours (e.g. departures before 09:15 on Monday to Friday)
3. As far as possible, timetables to be set according to passenger needs rather than operating convenience. So, for example, Sunday services outside London would be increased during shopping hours. Trains timed to allow workers to commute to/from major centres - instead of, for example, the final Leeds - Lancaster/Morecambe departure being before 17:00
4. Abolish passenger charters and compensation for late running; instead, there would be a requirement to hold connections for up to 10-15 minutes on lines with hourly services or less - and more for "last connection of day" - unless a check is made with conductor of the late running train to confirm no passengers require the connection.