Letter to the Cambridge Evening News sent 2/1/06
Published
Yet another rise in rail fares is an unbelievable insult to the public who already subsidise the private rail companies to a far greater tune than when we owned them. It is also utter madness in light of the environmental crisis we face. Britain has the technological ability to develop fast, cheap, comfortable, safe and reliable train services. But the political will is not there from Labour, Tories or the Lib Dems. With the impetus for environmental progress being placed on the consumer at every level we will never meet even our small commitments to reduce carbon emissions!
If, for example, I want to travel to Blackpool and back tomorrow the most environmentally sound way to go is by train (£96.40 before new year price rise) yet at some times of the day it is as quick to go by Bus (£43), which will cause localised pollution in towns with councils like ours that wont stand up to the bus companies and lets them congest the town centre. Driving a private car is four times as polluting on petrol alone – but may work out cheaper. I can however fly from Stansted for £67.64 causing 15 times the carbon emissions and creating no tax revenue for the government to spend on better transport. With rapid airport expansions and budget flight companies virtually unregulated it will soon cost less to fly to most UK destinations than to catch the train. We should Tax internal flights and spend it on a nationalised railway and encourage Europe then the world to follow!
Published
Yet another rise in rail fares is an unbelievable insult to the public who already subsidise the private rail companies to a far greater tune than when we owned them. It is also utter madness in light of the environmental crisis we face. Britain has the technological ability to develop fast, cheap, comfortable, safe and reliable train services. But the political will is not there from Labour, Tories or the Lib Dems. With the impetus for environmental progress being placed on the consumer at every level we will never meet even our small commitments to reduce carbon emissions!
If, for example, I want to travel to Blackpool and back tomorrow the most environmentally sound way to go is by train (£96.40 before new year price rise) yet at some times of the day it is as quick to go by Bus (£43), which will cause localised pollution in towns with councils like ours that wont stand up to the bus companies and lets them congest the town centre. Driving a private car is four times as polluting on petrol alone – but may work out cheaper. I can however fly from Stansted for £67.64 causing 15 times the carbon emissions and creating no tax revenue for the government to spend on better transport. With rapid airport expansions and budget flight companies virtually unregulated it will soon cost less to fly to most UK destinations than to catch the train. We should Tax internal flights and spend it on a nationalised railway and encourage Europe then the world to follow!
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