I have been a victim of
FGW▸ many times.
The problem is that where "privatisation" (har har har) has fragmented the system, we have lots of seperate arguments for additional stock + route developments from various different areas. What we need is one concerted and holistic argument from all areas, not lots of factions. We are falling into the trap of believing
DaFT» that Northern,
EMT» , FGW, Arriva and Co should be squabbling over insufficent units. Each gain for one is at the expense of another. What we need is a campaign for a mass order of Turbostars (or something) to be placed soon so that many of the current capacity issues can be zapped in one go AS WELL AS individual local campaigns.
I would heartily support an urban metro in Bristol and cannot believe that there is no station at Portishead yet. However, when a proper Bristol metro is up and running, the level of wear and tear on units will not be as high as the VL.
See post #130 for the amount of nodding the Welsh pacers do- Arriva squeeze major untilisation out of them on heavily loaded, steeply graded lines- they definately need something better before the poor nodders fall apart!
Daniel
