IntenseDebate - GlobalTectonics

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Henry Smith: The defen... · 0 replies · +1 points

I don't know if anyone pays anyone for trolling for the EU, but if they do, I doubt the trolls make 2 million a day!

I expect there'll be some huge changes of opinion when the results of the negotiations are published.

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 1 reply · +1 points

I suspect that most of us know that a journey from A to B means just that, it doesn't mean one from A to C to D to Z to B.

One clue is that you get only one ticket from A to B. If you get two tickets, one from A to C and one from C to B, then you should be able to break your journey at C. Unless it says not on your receipt.

Yes, it's usually cheaper not to interrupt your journey. You do therefore have the choice you want.

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Henry Smith: The defen... · 3 replies · +1 points

I make a million a day. Before Covid I made twice as much. So I feel I have a right to some taxpayers' money, a million a day, in fact. My security is at stake!

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 1 reply · +1 points

With "monopoly", you're now saying you don't have choices. Which is it?

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 6 replies · +1 points

You're complaining that you have choices!

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 0 replies · +1 points

Well said!

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 3 replies · +1 points

What's the difference?

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 0 replies · +1 points

Excellent observation, thanks.

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 18 replies · +1 points

Is the fare structure really "ludicrously convoluted"? Passengers as a whole have huge numbers of different journey needs, so simplifying is likely to end up with many paying more than in a structure that takes their complex needs into account. Why would a complicated fare structure "hold the railways back"? Is it really possible to put the "the interests of passengers and taxpayers first"? Their financial interests would seem in conflict! Why would a job-share be "not the best way to rum a railway"? People communicate! Much better, probably, than a "single neutral controlling mind", especially one like the mentioned DC.

How do we get from Beeching to "Without Beeching, Brexit might never have happened"? Is Andrew Gimson moaning about Beeching or moaning about Brexit? If we don't "know if demand for rail travel will revive", then should we be plannimg to open new lines? Beeching's cuts occurred for lines that were un-economic, lines with too few passengers for operators to avoid losses, so reviving those lines might not necessarily be in taxpayers' interests. Bus services might be better for all concerned.

4 years ago @ http://www.conservativ... - Shapps has spotted a o... · 0 replies · +1 points

It also seems difficult to take Andrew Gimson seriously. "The press" is more than the Daily and Sunday Telegraph. Managing railways is about much more than can be found in children's books.

In real life, neither safety nor service is improved by having management assume their role is to be in conflict with unions. Nor is "central control" always the best method, especially when a system depends so very greatly on each of its individual parts. The so-called "strike weapon" is a perfectly legitimate action for free people to take when they feel their case has not been heard. Trains aren't empty, and leaving them in unplanned places is disruptive too, so a threat to halt them does have teeth.

Yes, a realistic deal has got to be made, one that respects unions and workers as well as management. A deal that recognizes that walking around a train may still serve useful purposes, though personally I've often seen drivers change over without it happening.

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