General Election 2010 and its implications for the railways (combined topic)

[whole diary]

[grahame]

[I have been known to shock people in these parts by suggesting that a road be built in two or three specific places.

.........like around Westbury ?? 

Complex one that - and not what I was meaning as I posted.  Some cases that merit careful consideration and possible construction were included in core strategy responses, summarised here.

P.S. There's a number of old articles on my blog on the "red rag" of Westbury  . Start  here if you need a link!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Birmingham Post:

David Cameron kicks off Tory General Election campaign in Birmingham

Mr Cameron was in Birmingham for about an hour before being whisked away to catch a train to Leeds.

And he promised that the proposed high speed rail link between Birmingham and London would remain a priority under Tory rule.

^We are very committed to high speed rail,^ he vowed. ^We put high speed rail back on the map a few years ago when the Government was condemning it.

^We want to make it work. It^s a very exciting prospect for Birmingham but also for Manchester and Leeds as well.^

[Chris from Nailsea]

From The Times:

Brown left grounded as David Cameron gets off to a flying start

David Cameron^s campaign will exploit ^air superiority^ over Gordon Brown, as the Tories use their cash advantage to leave Labour grounded.
The Conservative leader travelled back to London by private plane after the first day of the election campaign last night and is expected to take to the air again today.
Aides say he will aim to visit at least two regions a day at the height of a campaign that targets seats across Britain. But while Mr Cameron^s packed itinerary requires frequent air travel, Mr Brown will fly on only a handful of occasions, according to the Labour leader^s spokesman. He will use a train instead most of the time, as he did yesterday.
With Labour compelled to make a virtue out of the necessity imposed by their relative poverty, the Conservatives said the party had not leased a single aircraft but had booked a number of different ones.
The Tories are aware that the gulf between the parties in terms of spending power could be turned against them, as the leaders battle to identify themselves with ordinary voters.
The Conservatives raised more than ^32 million last year and would have little difficulty in spending up to the maximum allowed of ^18.96 million, plus ^350,000 for Northern Ireland.
By contrast, Labour sources said the party was now halfway through a total war chest of only ^8 million. The party raised about ^16 million last year, mostly from the trade unions, but there is no prospect of further significant funding, sources said. Ministers have been told that they must travel to campaign events on economy fares unless there is a pressing reason, such as the need for police protection, that prevents them from doing so.
It has also been decided that the party^s manifesto will be printed on cheap, recycled paper. ^m sure the document will look professional but it certainly won^t be a glossy production,^ said an official close to the process.

[Mookiemoo]

How ironic. After jumping through all the hoops to arrange overseas proxy voting, I'll actually be in the country on 6 May. Although probably not in the relevant parliamentary constituency, I admit.

And I'll be flying out that afternoon- I have left instructions with friends to txt me the updates so as soon as I touch down in LA.......and the phone goes on.....

[caliwag]

A nice reasoned argument from the man the media turn to for er, a reasoned argument. So, Cornish independence is the answer!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/06/liberal-democrats-railway-plans

[caliwag]

Can anyone provide a link to the Lib Dems press release regarding the re-openings policy? Cheers

[woody]

It seems that even David Cameron prefers to fly to Plymouth rather than use the train or drive.
"The Conservative Party leader flew into the city on Day Three of the General Election campaign."
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/City-key-Britain-s-defence-8211-Cameron/article-1992320-detail/article.html

[Chris from Nailsea]

Can anyone provide a link to the Lib Dems press release regarding the re-openings policy? Cheers

Here you go: http://www.libdems.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?title=Liberal_Democrats_pledge_biggest_rail_expansion_since_the_Victorians&pPK=f985d8ec-e525-4383-9bf0-92dd1c9ee859 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Labour wants to force rail firms to offer cheapest fare

Labour is going to include in its manifesto a commitment to force rail companies to offer passengers the cheapest fare, the BBC has learnt.
Rail passenger numbers are at the highest level since World War II, but consumers often complain that tickets are mis-sold.
The Tories say they would revamp the rail franchising system to give a better service.
The Lib Dems have pledged that fares would rise by less than inflation.
Labour says that if it wins the election it will give passengers an enforceable right to the cheapest fare, the BBC understands.
Consumers would be able to get a refund if they were mis-sold a ticket, with disputes going to the regulator.
When the consumer group Which? investigated rail fares, it found that the cheapest ticket was offered on fewer than half of occasions.
Researchers were not told about cheaper train firms, off-peak fares or season ticket savings.
However, the train companies said that mystery shopper investigations see the right ticket sold 99% of the time.

[caliwag]

Excellent thanks Chris

[Btline]

To be fair, my local ticket office is excellent, and I would think most are.

Any cases where more expensive tickets were sold would be due to stupid ticket restrictions and anomalies.

[inspector_blakey]

Labour wants to force rail firms to offer cheapest fare

Erm, are they not already obliged to sell passengers the "cheapest ticket for your journey"? I'm fairly sure it's in the Conditions of Carriage along with impartial ticket retailing. This sounds like a piece of electioneering nonsense to me...

If this is indeed such a pressing and vote-winning issue, it's interesting that Labour haven't done anything about it for the last 13 years they've been in government!

[JayMac]

All well and good 'forcing' TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) to sell the cheapest fare - something they should do already - but often the cheapest fare is one that involves split ticketing or a slower route. I'd love to know just how Labour are going to legislate for this when the fares system is so complex. Oh, and how do you force a website or TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) to sell you the cheapest fare?

Want a Saturday day out in London from Bristol?:

Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Paddington, Super Off Peak Return (SSR) coming back the same day: ^48.80

Bristol TM to Didcot PW^▸ (Permanent Way), Off Peak Day Return (CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day'))) then Didcot PW to Paddington (CDR): ^38.80

And what if you ask at the Bristol TM ticket office for the cheapest ticket to London coming back the same day?

How many of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) ticket staff will offer you (even just as an option) the Super Off Peak Day Return to Waterloo via Salisbury at ^29.90? Or even the cheaper still, and perfectly valid, Shirehampton to Waterloo (via SAL) Off Peak Day Return at ^27.10......

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You want to do a weeks commuting between Plymouth and Paddington travelling first class? I'm betting the only fare you'll be offered is the 7 Day First Season (7DF) at ^766.50 overcharging you just over ^200 compared to a 7 Day First Class All Line Rover.

[Super Guard]

It seems that even David Cameron prefers to fly to Plymouth rather than use the train or drive.
"The Conservative Party leader flew into the city on Day Three of the General Election campaign."
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/City-key-Britain-s-defence-8211-Cameron/article-1992320-detail/article.html

ASW I hope!! 

[John R]

I don't think it's unreasonable for the party leaders to fly during an election campaign. My only surprise is that they don't use private jets for the flexibility that they give.

After all, this is one occasion when time is critical, and they are trying to fit in as many visits as possible, to different parts of the country on the same day. (eg Visiting several places in the west country on one day does not have the same impact as visiting several places on separate days during the campaign, as the local TV and radio airtime will be much greater for each additional day spent in a region).