But then I don't run the railways.. so what do I know?..
Jo, I know there are two smily faces on the end of that one ... but I could start a whole separate thread along the lines of "if people who travel had some clout in running the railways".
FGW▸ 's customer representatives have a limited role; some are excellent, others are invisible, but I have a feeling of something of a
PR▸ excercise. Passenger Focus is very limited with one
DfT» funded representative in the South West, and (as I read it) a role expanding to include buses and (according to a Geoff Hoon speech last week) air travel too. I expect he'll get ferries and taxis too.
I'm sure a passenger representative with a wide ranging role and a true ability to influence and change things (and goodness knows how that could be worked!) would make some mistakes, and would at time become "poacher turned gamekeeper" ... but I would love to see it. Yes, I can think of some practical candidates (and, before anyone asks, the top ones on my list don't live on the TransWilts!)
While I was writing, Electric Train followed up. Yes - I think everyone appreciates the need for engineering possessions under the current system that aren't suspeded for every Marathon, FA cup final and Bank Holiday; perhaps my "poacher" analogy. And yet there is this need and stated desire to run a 7 day railway. Isn't Sunday afternoon the busiest time of the week for long distance travel?