Rail fares increase yet again.

You will forgive me but England is actually quite moderate in terms of tax.

I holidayed in Sweden in August. I learnt that the LOWEST tax rate is 45% and the rail price is around £1.50 per mile.

I thought by your post you meant "stop complaining about high rail fares, because they all go back into the railway" - but the point is that in the UK we have quite high taxes anyway, so when people are also forced to shell out an abnormally high amount of money to pay to get to work, of course they should complain.

Yeah, but Sweden also has free higher education. Idk, they seem to use their taxes quite well. I'm not sure if I'm right on this, but I doubt that Sweden is as privatisation-crazy as the UK (?)

Yes people pay huge taxes in Sweden but they get a lot back from the government as a result in terms of excellent healthcare (the NHS is **** by comparison), housing, free education up to University level, maternity leave (both men and women get a year off) etc. On top of this everything is new, modern, efficient, on time etc.

In the UK however, we are forever paying increasing taxes but subsidisation for everything is being cut, the NHS is being destroyed, every road has got a billion holes in it and the cost of everything just keeps rising.

At least TFL's improvements are visible. I see very few improvements in National Rail lately. When will they replace the old and clunky trains on the Welwyn Garden City to Moorgate route?

So in effect you support hs2 then.

Have you ever ridden one of these? They are enough to make want to slice your wrist. I have even been stuck in a toilet and had to bang the door off a bit once. They're so ****. I feel like I'm travelling to a town in a third world country when I travel in one instead of Leeds.





Posted from TSR Mobile

I thought by your post you meant "stop complaining about high rail fares, because they all go back into the railway" - but the point is that in the UK we have quite high taxes anyway, so when people are also forced to shell out an abnormally high amount of money to pay to get to work, of course they should complain.

No, HS2 is just a keeping up with the Joneses project. It only serves to benefit London (well the middle class in London anyway)


Posted from TSR Mobile

It's a "stop complaining because most of it goes back into the railways and in real terms it isn't actually that much this year". They aren't that high, although I think that when we are able to we should shift up the 40pc rate significantly and put a 30pc rate in the middle

Sadly it doesn't. Hs2 connects the UK to Europe.

Don't you mean London to Europe?

People want value for money travel that allows them to get to work. People don't generally travel to different countries each week to get to work (unless they're in the travel industry). The UK to Europe argument doesn't sell the idea of HS2 to me as a Yorkshireman.

We haven't even got a decent mass transit system yet. The basics need to be down first. We're still in Pacers up here! You don't attempt to build a skyscraper before attempting build a house.


Posted from TSR Mobile

People have every right to complain. We don't do enough complaining in the UK. We don't demand excellent customer service. We just 'put up and shut up'.

When I board a train I expect to be treat like a customer and not like some sort of insignificant scum. I pay enough. I want smiles, clean trains, no rudeness... it isn't rocket science. People pay enough fares. Britain doesn't need anymore increases in fares.

In my experience I believe this what people want from a rail service:
1) regular trains that are on time
2) Train travel that is great value for money for regular travel (none of that buy online 'day tripper' nonsense)
3) Clean trains that are fit for purpose (no pacers).
4) A seat.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yes people pay huge taxes in Sweden but they get a lot back from the government as a result in terms of excellent healthcare (the NHS is **** by comparison), housing, free education up to University level, maternity leave (both men and women get a year off) etc. On top of this everything is new, modern, efficient, on time etc.

In the UK however, we are forever paying increasing taxes but subsidisation for everything is being cut, the NHS is being destroyed, every road has got a billion holes in it and the cost of everything just keeps rising.

So you mean to say you want us to improve the rail network without making any investment in it (or at least decreasing the investment)? How do you intend to do this Einstein?
As for the rest, while it's dependent on line and how you define "great value for money", your criteria are pretty much met already.

I don't find paying over £10 to travel on some rotten banger made in the early 80s (that were considered crap before they even made it onto the tracks) that travels slower than someone's grandma browsing in an antique shop to be great value for money.

On top of that there's a new added peak time period during weekdays to travel on some rotten banger made in the early 80s (that were considered crap before they even made it onto the tracks) that travels slower than someone's grandma browsing in an antique shop.

When I get cash I'm getting a motorbike. I'd rather risk death than use this country's awful and overpriced trains


Posted from TSR Mobile

Yes people pay huge taxes in Sweden but they get a lot back from the government as a result in terms of excellent healthcare (the NHS is **** by comparison), housing, free education up to University level, maternity leave (both men and women get a year off) etc. On top of this everything is new, modern, efficient, on time etc.

In the UK however, we are forever paying increasing taxes but subsidisation for everything is being cut, the NHS is being destroyed, every road has got a billion holes in it and the cost of everything just keeps rising.