The whole electrification debate is almost laughable. Last time I heard Hull Trains has secured much of the funding needed to complete the work, they just needed the DfT to agree to payback the investment. The contempt shown for the region by successive governments is beyond comprehension and it seems that unless the regions businesses self fund investment nothing is going to happen. Hull City Council don't help matters as they seem unable to lobby to any meaningful degree and let central government turn them over at every opportunity while investing money in flawed projects all over the city while simultaneously pleading poverty. East Riding are almost as culpable with little or no comment although the line passes through their region for 95% of the route from Selby. We are a gateway to Europe. We handle the bulk of timber imports to the UK and over 1 million paaseners go through King George Docks and ABP Humber contribute 2.2bn to the UK economy. Why are we so far down the list?
Electric trains are quieter, and have faster acceleration after stops than diesel. It would probably cut the journey time to London by a few minutes.
Can't ignore the general benefits of electrification though, eg cleaner, quieter, cheaper to run, less track maintenance, etc.
true don't get me wrong I want it to be done, but I don't think those who are campaigning for it have explained very well why everybody should want it
My rudimentary calculations suggest that £68M represents 5 hours worth of spending on the NHS. (@£116B per year/£318M per day - annual defence spending is roughly half that amount @£55B.)
A lot of people seem to have little idea of the cost of the NHS. Though it is indeed cheaper for us than many other countries. Even cheaper for those who roll up and get treated without having contributed towards it of course. When the NHS was founded it cost £480 million, the equivalent of £15 billion today. NYE Bevan said at the time it sounded a lot, but the improvements it would bring in health would see the cost eventually decrease...
i think that nhs should be half paid for non emergency/life saving stuff should have a cost the nhs waiting times, queues staffing is incredibly bad, it's not sustainable
A few years ago I went on Hull Trains and I was meant to collect the ticket on the train, they couldn't find it. Then the ticket collector insisted I had to pay for it again, I absolutely refused. Eventually they went back and found the ticket.
I think the financial issues with the NHS are a smokescreen and some national figures are seeking to paint it as irredeemable so that it is easier to privatise as many parts as possible. The fact that people are even discussing paying for elements (when you've all on average paid for it already) shows that is a successful tactic. ......anyway!
With reference to Bevans quote, he must be spinning in his mausoleum With anecdotes like that is there any wonder you never get invited to dinner parties?
Easily the best train service I've used in the UK. Not surprised by the awards they have been awarded
Went on Transpennine yesterday. When it pulled into Paragon Central there were 3 carriages, every single seat reserved. By the time it left, standing in all carriages, with more getting on at Brough for their pampering in Leeds with Prosecco, strawbs and Pringles en route. Change at Leeds, another 3 carriage bastard, every seat taken standing in all carriages. On the way back, 3 carriage train 20 mins late into Newcastle, standing in all carriages. 30 mins late into Leeds. Caught the connecting train which was 40 mins late and guess what, three carriages, standing in every carriage, ankle deep in piss in the bogs, cans on the floor etc. Train broke down briefly but they got it going again after about 20 mins. To sum up: Transpennine are ****s, they rip off their passengers by charging full rate when they know their out of date poorly maintained trains are over full. This happens on every one of their routes, as the same sketch for Burnley away. Going back to the previous discussion: no motorway, no electrified railway and **** rail services. It doesn't reflect well on this region does it?
That's the Transpennine experience every Saturday, it's not confined to the pre Xmas period. They have new rolling stock on order, it will briefly improve in a couple of years' time.
That's the only benefit of travelling on a Northern Rail route... the trains are absolutely disgusting and not fit for purpose but the tickets on their routes are considerably cheaper than transpennine and virgin routes. Not sure how transpennine can charge as much as they do, can't remember the last time I got a seat on one of those trains. The trains to Manchester from Preston are like the trains in Japan, sardine cans.
