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1697
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture Overseas / Re: “flygskam”, or “flight-shame”, movement
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on: January 08, 2020, 14:39:24
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I wouldn't describe heating as a red herring. The one area does not negate the other. It's going to take an awful lot of effort to switch the whole country to electric heating and even more to get people to dress more suitably and turn down the thermostat. A particular problem will be rented housing, which I read recently is now more than 50% of all housing in the UK▸ – we are no longer a nation of householders even if we still are one of shopkeepers – being exempt from efficiency regulations.
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1701
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: IET Driver Only Operation - bit strange
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on: January 08, 2020, 09:47:59
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I don't think walking through a train for routine announcements of the "We are now approaching Coffee Shop Central" type is practical. For explanations of delays, yes, but given how angry some people can get over inconsequential things, maybe it's wiser to use announcements. In-carriage displays should be at least as useful – avoiding problems of accents, etc – but often seem to be plain wrong.  |
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1702
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture Overseas / Re: “flygskam”, or “flight-shame”, movement
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on: January 07, 2020, 18:56:01
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I am strongly in favour of encouraging long distance rail instead of air travel. Even a diesel train is preferable to an airliner, and an electric train better still.
Under present conditions though I find it hard to recommend UK▸ rail travel. It is often hugely expensive, fares are complex, and capacity often inadequate for present passenger numbers, let alone for any significant increase.
If greater use of rail is to be encouraged in the UK, then I consider train length to be the most important issue. Note that I state train length and not capacity.
Comfort and facilities are also important. Rail is never going to be as quick as air, so needs to compete on comfort and facilities rather than on speed.
I'd agree with much of this, but the comparison with air fares is dependent on where you are. As an example, for a morning journey a week today:- Bristol to Edinburgh. Fly £28, Rail £200. Flying time, 1 hr 15, rail, 6hrs, so even with the getting to and from the airline palaver, still a lot quicker to fly. Rail will be in a Voyager, which is a bit rubbish for 6 hrs. (I've done it, and it wasn't pleasant.) At least you know on Easyjet the trolley will be down in the first 45 mins. London to Edinburgh. Fly £30, Rail from around £74. Flying time 1 hr 20 (Luton), Rail 4 hrs 20 mins. Flying still probably faster, depending on where you are starting, but there are lots of airports around London to choose from. The gap is much less though, especially when you add in the cost of airport parking or transfers. So rail is still more expensive, but the difference on price and journey time is much closer, and maybe worth it to avoid the hassle of the airport, and to take the greener approach. Probably another example of the way, commented on in this forum by several people, that railways in UK are mostly geared up to transporting people to and from London. |
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1703
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture Overseas / Re: “flygskam”, or “flight-shame”, movement
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on: January 07, 2020, 18:55:02
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Suitcases are an awful lot lighter than they used to be. A while ago I was helping my aunt sort out some stuff at her house. She had her father's (my grandfather's) 1960s (or thereabouts) Samsonite suitcases, which were tiny compared to what people use nowadays but, empty, weighed much more. If people's luggage is heavier nowadays (and I'm sure it is) it's in part because lighter construction has enabled bigger cases, which people then fill; but it's probably mostly just because people have more stuff.
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1706
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Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / Re: Bristol's Temple Gate layout change planned in £21m revamp
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on: January 02, 2020, 19:40:32
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The timing of the pedestrian crossing going from the Grosvenor hotel to the Temple Meads side (comes out next to the car park) is woeful. It prioritises cars way to much.
Just before Christmas I was stood for a good 2-3 minutes waiting for the green man to apear. It meant my walk for a certain train went from reasonably leisurely to somewhat rushed. There isn't even a central reservation so it's more difficult to take your life into your own hands and cross halfway. Probably worth walking a bit further to cross opposite the station ramp instead.
The one with the countdown display? It's good in that it's much easier to see the green man than on the normal-for-Bristol display on the post by your elbow. Shame that green man is only lit for 7 seconds (I timed it) and, yes, an even bigger shame you have to wait so long for it. |
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1709
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All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: ACORN and "Take Back Our Buses"
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on: December 26, 2019, 16:36:57
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As for the "Take Back our Buses" campaign, I'm not sure I see the point of forming a mega-queue. But anyway, that's just a tactic. They have a page explaining their aims: What ACORN is demanding
Tim Bowles has the power to take buses back into public control through franchising or the kind of worker buyout that would deliver partial public ownership and control - but so far he's failed to act.
We know public control is more effective. It's how transport is run in London where the market is regulated by Transport for London (TfL» ) - buses are more regular, prices are capped, and essential routes are protected.
Franchising or a worker- & council-owned bus service would give us:
control over the bus network, which would mean companies would be forced to put on certain, less profitable routes and more regular services.
control over fares, so we are the ones that set the prices.
control over ticketing, which could mean one single, affordable ticket for the whole of the West of England, like it is in London.
Bristol - and the whole region - deserve better buses.
We demand that Tim Bowles start an investigation into bringing the buses back into public control and that Bristol City Council support franchising or a worker buyout.
Send a clear message to Tim Bowles, Marvin Rees & leaders across the region - we want our buses back! https://acorntheunion.org.uk/tbob-sw/ |
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