Talk to passengers for truth about our trains as they’re the experts
So says Tom Richmond in
the Yorkshire PostIF Keith Williams – the former British Airways executive leading the Government’s rail review – has any sense, he will spend some time travelling on the North’s railways and hearing first-hand from exasperated passengers before finalising his proposals.
They’re the people who matter most of all. Individuals like regular reader Richard Morton, from Sheffield, whose experiences have helped to shape The Yorkshire Post’s coverage as part of the agenda-setting Power Up The North campaign and our repeated calls for greater transparency and accountability.
“I travelled back from my sister’s in Whitby,” he emailed before the insult of this week’s fares increase. “Usual lovely journey up the Esk valley. On looking at my ticket the cheerful conductor apologised for my 55-minute wait at Middlesbrough: ‘I’m afraid it’s the new timetable Sir’.
etc, with a story of trials and tribulations which lists problems without suggesting solutions, and wanders off into other political stuff and comment.
Certainly a good idea for Williams to listen - though I think the proper time for that was last years as he now gets to the finalisation of this report, but don't sadly don't expect the passenger from Whitby to Sheffield to be the one who understands what the overall solution is, and puts it forward.
Comment on another thread on the forum about what we may expect (in terms of quality of report) from Williams. An element of suggestion I have - from very well informed sources - is that it's likely to be rather more useful and positive than some on the forum fear.
