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How do members of The Cabinet travel on the train?

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yorksrob

yorksrob

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I don't object to politicians getting free travel to and from their constituencies. Seems a reasonable expense.

I'm inclined to think it should be the basic standard fare (with the ability to upgrade to first at their own expense). This would enable them to show solidarity with their fellow public servants. Actually, the whole upgrading a company bought ticket could be made a lot easier by TOC's in general, but they seem to be missing a trick (or not understanding how companies purchase travel).
 
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Abpj17

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For those that commute into London every day, you can easily see what fare they are paying through their expenses.

While not cabinet level, Kelvin Hopkins (Lab, Luton North) is another who commutes in - and has a track record of getting involved in debates/legislation about trains.
 
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philjo

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I was going into London on the GN route a couple of Saturdays ago.
the front half of the front coach (8 car 365) was out of use - several GN staff in board preventing passengers from sitting there.
At stevenage Ed Milliband boarded & went in the 1st class section at the front.

There was also a full ticket check on board so at least 6 GN staff present in the front unit.
 
Kite159

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philjo said:
I was going into London on the GN route a couple of Saturdays ago.
the front half of the front coach (8 car 365) was out of use - several GN staff in board preventing passengers from sitting there.
At stevenage Ed Milliband boarded & went in the 1st class section at the front.

There was also a full ticket check on board so at least 6 GN staff present in the front unit.
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Did he also remove the First Class antimacassars to pretend he was in standard class? ;)
 
Flamingo

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Personally, I don't have a problem with MP's travelling First Class. I don't see the point of an MP representing several thousand constituents unable to work when they could be getting on with it on the train. I'd give them all the equivalent of a First Class pass as standard issue (no pun intended) - if the number of BR pensioners that I see with them every day can be sustained (it's a rare day when one doesn't see one), then another 650 would slot into the system no problem at all.

From a TOC's point of view it would be good PR to show politicians what is the best than can be offered from a punctuality and service point of view, from a travellers point of view the more movers and shakers that use the train, the more pressure that there would be on the TOC's and Network Rail to get it right all the time
 
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bairy

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Parallel said:
I remember from The Railway: First Great Western series that she was filmed arriving to somewhere in Cornwall on a 150.

Lucky she didn't need to travel on one of the branch lines around Exeter. She may have ended up on a pacer. :lol:<D
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It was the St Ives branch. 150 sounds right, maybe 156 if fgw have those. Wasn't a pacer anyway.
 
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HilversumNS

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Paul Sidorczuk said:
Being just returned from an 8-day holiday and not wishing to trawl back through six full pages of postings, how do similar senior parliamentary figures of other governments in the EC use railway travel and what special allowances do they receive when travelling by this mode of travel.
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In the Netherlands, the former Prime Minister Wim Kok used to cycle to his office and park his bike at the door. This all changed after the assassination of Pim Fortuyn during the run up to the 2002 elections.
 
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30 common

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During the Farnborough Air show last year Mr Cameron and his entourage occupied an entire coach of a busy four-car 450 Desiro from FNB to WAT. That's the kind of man who just became PM *slow clap*

 
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telstarbox

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Flamingo said:
Personally, I don't have a problem with MP's travelling First Class. I don't see the point of an MP representing several thousand constituents unable to work when they could be getting on with it on the train. I'd give them all the equivalent of a First Class pass as standard issue (no pun intended) - if the number of BR pensioners that I see with them every day can be sustained (it's a rare day when one doesn't see one), then another 650 would slot into the system no problem at all.

From a TOC's point of view it would be good PR to show politicians what is the best than can be offered from a punctuality and service point of view, from a travellers point of view the more movers and shakers that use the train, the more pressure that there would be on the TOC's and Network Rail to get it right all the time
Click to expand...

Agree with this, and it would reduce the admin for individual claims.
 
yorksrob

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Flamingo said:
From a TOC's point of view it would be good PR to show politicians what is the best than can be offered from a punctuality and service point of view, from a travellers point of view the more movers and shakers that use the train, the more pressure that there would be on the TOC's and Network Rail to get it right all the time
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Whilst I'd make them pay for the upgrade, I generally agree with this point. I'd also say, the more movers and shakers that use the train, the less likely they are to impose poorly dreamt up policy on the railway.
 
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matt_world2004

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Maybe when smartcard ticketing is introduced a HOC smartcard travel card could be introduced allowing standard class travel over the network. With one proviso, it is to be used only for duty related travel and their duty related travel history can be viewed online.
 
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GodAtum

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30 common said:
During the Farnborough Air show last year Mr Cameron and his entourage occupied an entire coach of a busy four-car 450 Desiro from FNB to WAT. That's the kind of man who just became PM *slow clap*
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under what law could they legally move people who were already sitting their out?
 
Flamingo

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GodAtum said:
under what law could they legally move people who were already sitting their out?
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In the same way a coach can be locked out of use for safety and security reasons. The railway is private property. Not everything needs a law.
 
kevconnor

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Bodiddly said:
They will need to provide a whole train from Scotland every week! ;)
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Maybe when some more of the 319's come on board for Northern we can convert some of Newton Heath's finest into a very special carriages that can be used by MP's for travel from the big smoke back to their constituencies. Maybe then they will see what the fuss is about.
 
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dgl

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If David Cameron came into the carriage I was on I'd be quite happy to be moved away from him especially if he had a couple of guards to prevent him from coming anywhere near me :)
 
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matt_world2004

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If I had to vacate my seat for the prime minister unless he had a disability or mobility problems I would be straight onto the nearest rag, claiming my own mobility problems as well as demanding a refund from the rail company who asked me to move.
 
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6Gman

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backontrack said:
Has Michael Portillo ever been on a train? :lol: :lol:
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When he did the programme about the Dawlish stretch he said something along the lines of "I've never been along this stretch before".

A Minister of Transport who had never used the GWML west of Exeter?

:o
 
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jopsuk

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Bodiddly said:
They will need to provide a whole train from Scotland every week! ;)
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Um, there's exactly the same number of MPs from Scotland as in the previous parliament. It's just the party that has, in almost every case, changed.
 
BestWestern

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WatcherZero said:
When the Queens travelling for personal rather than public functions she usually drives herself in her Range Rover.

article-0-181F15EB00000578-843_634x357.jpg
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I very much doubt she drives herself whilst on the public highways though? I'd venture that photograph was taken somewhere around Balmoral.

Princess Anne is a frequent traveller on FGW HSTs. Other than a dog sweep before departure, she's very discreet and travels only with low key security and the obligitory FGW manager, and offers a pleasant thank you upon disembarking. I presume the provision of a TOC manager to accompany VIPs is an industry standard?
 
Mikey C

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BestWestern said:
I very much doubt she drives herself whilst on the public highways though? I'd venture that photograph was taken somewhere around Balmoral.

Princess Anne is a frequent traveller on FGW HSTs. Other than a dog sweep before departure, she's very discreet and travels only with low key security and the obligitory FGW manager, and offers a pleasant thank you upon disembarking. I presume the provision of a TOC manager to accompany VIPs is an industry standard?
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Does she take her horses with her :)
 
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