While I agree that the railways superseded the canals, it hasn't meant that the canals have gone away. In fact in the last 50 years more canals have been restored and reopened. Also just because someone has a bright idea, ie: Electric Driverless Vehicles (EDV), doesn't mean that it is a workable idea. This group of deluded idiots we call our national Government, cancelled a number of very needed Electrification, on the basis that Bi-modes could do it as just as easily. About the same time they stated it was their intention to scrap ALL Diesel Vehicles by 2040. Not only have you not consider the enormous cost of placing "charging points" for these EDV's all over the country, but would any future Government consider it to be viable to do such in the far north of Scotland, where there aren't enough people to make is cost effective. The same argument you are using against the keeping of the FNL. I visit the North of Scotland, although not that far north, Morayshire. I visit 1/2 times a year. I either drive, taking 2 days, as the A9 is a real pain. Or I catch the train, 1 day. While there I use the train to both Inverness and Aberdeen, plus a few shorter journeys. Having driven the roads up in Scotland, I certainly wouldn't want to be at the mercy of an EDV.