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Chester station is a pretty dismal walk from the city centre.

Definitely, the valleys have lost out for a long time now because they're so dependably Labour that there's absolutely no political advantage in addressing constituents' issues. Slightly off-topic, but an American-style primary system for choosing the Labour candidates for AM and MP would be a...

A proper Cardiff and Valleys metro system,with 4tph+, would be transformational. It will happen eventually, but will any of us here still be alive?

It's not impractical nonsense to let staff know that the customer might sometimes be in the right when they present a ticket with no obvious marking. As it currently stands, the training gives staff false confidence in the logic of the system, meaning they are likely to challenge customers on...

Well, no, it's not 'reasonable' at all to be making training statements to staff like 'Some NR tickets are valid for travel on the underground. These tickets will have an R, U, or + on them.' when you know this is not true! At the very least, that 'will have an R...' statement should read 'will...

That is good; doing such jobs without clear career progression opportunities is a recipe for low staff morale and high turnover. Whereas, personally at least, I'm prepared to put up with most things if I'm working towards a reasonably achievable goal or ambition.

How long til the Co-op come knocking, I wonder?

That website makes an interesting point though - when we finally have a national Oyster-type card, Open Access operators (and indeed franchised ones) will truly be able to compete, as we'll have accurate figures as to which service passengers choose, rather than this ORCATS advanced guesswork...

In reality that would be impossible, yes. However, issuing staff with a smartphone or some other device able to check a journey planner wouldn't be too outlandish. That way they could wave through all + tickets and LONDON tickets, and check on a journey planner any others. On a slightly...

I agree that no one can reasonably expect staff to be better than their training, and I further agree that the system should be changed so + appears on all tickets for all LONDON-routed flows. Given the current fact that things aren't as simple as this, it is a failing of the people devising the...

Note though that many cleaning/catering positions these days are subcontracted, giving at best reduced opportunities for internal career progression.

True, normally due to crowding. But there's not really an excuse on the last SOR and last SVR trains, as they're not that busy due to the next train coming in cheaper. And most ex-London intercity trains have quite a length between the London terminal and the first stop (London-Reading and...

Seems like a bit of a lacuna - I've been on quite a lot of long-distance trains from London where my ticket hasn't been checked on board (particularly FGW and Virgin), so if there's no penalty then if I were less upstanding and ethical I'd never get an SVR where an SSR was available. Of course...

I don't particularly think abolishing or drastically cutting back on Advance fares, with a corresponding reduction in walk-up fares, would result in much of an outcry at all. Nearly everyone I speak to who doesn't take an interest in fares (sane people) are surprised at the cheap price they get...

No British government should give even the appearance of caring about what Argentina thinks about the Falklands. Mixed signals and appearances of weakness were what led Galtieri into thinking the UK would roll over the first time round. Cuts or no cuts, Argentina is a very long way off defeating...

Whilst running things at a profit!

The Channel Islanders I know seem quite happy with the status quo. The (very British, in a loose British Isles sense) compromise of Westminster being able to legislate, but not doing so, seems to give the appropriate degree of freedom whilst providing a safeguard against the abuse of power...

Accidental post.

Although I highly doubt "the member for Antigua might sit alongside the member for Aldershot", as Antigua and Barbuda has been independent for over 30 years! Sir Vere would spin in his grave...

Personally I'm all for integration of these territories on a devo-max basis similar to that currently being floated for Scotland: control over most things other than defence, and (reduced) representation in the Westminster Parliament. If these territories don't wish to be independent (and they...