Train fares, should they be subsidised?

Do you now about a website called "the man in seat 61" ?

It explains how to travel in and around Europe and also the UK, how to get the best deals and when to book. I found it very useful when we travelled by train to Florence, incorporating a trip on the Bernina Express.

Our journey was Limoges, Paris, Zurich (for the BE), Tirano, Milan and Florence. Return was Florence, Turin, Paris, Limoges. Each journey involved one overnight stop. The total cost of the travel, for two was 258 euros. The hotel in Zurich for one night cost about the same.

Return tickets London to Paris by Eurostar start at £78. So, start planning all the wonderful holidays you could have!

I’m so heartened to see so many GNers who think that buses, trains, etc should be at the forefront of our transport system. The car has been king for so many years in this country, more than long enough for us to know what all the disadvantages are. Yet I have friends who wouldn’t dream of setting foot on a bus even if they stop right outside their door - they’re just for the underclass and eccentrics like me. Such a sad attitude when we all know, surely, what harm we’re doing to our planet. If I were prime minister (watch out, world! ) one of my top priorities would be a free, efficient and reliable public transport network for all. We’d have an awful lot of work to do though….

The thing that always strikes me is that, when we were much younger and fewer people had cars, public transport, certainly in my part of the world, was very good and affordable. It was quite easy to get to most parts of rural Essex by bus. Services were more frequent than now and very well used.

Someone's going to have to bite the bullet and provide decent transport services before people move away from using their cars less.

I stayed with my grandparents in rural Essex during school holidays. A local coach firm ran a coach to the local market town on market days, which was twice a week. One trip to the town in the morning and a return trip in the afternoon. It went round the little villages and provided a real social occasion for the locals. They were almost all older people who didn’t have cars (or only the husband drove) and of course this was decades before online shopping appeared. Things are so very different now.

Dinahmo

Do you now about a website called "the man in seat 61" ?

It explains how to travel in and around Europe and also the UK, how to get the best deals and when to book. I found it very useful when we travelled by train to Florence, incorporating a trip on the Bernina Express.

Our journey was Limoges, Paris, Zurich (for the BE), Tirano, Milan and Florence. Return was Florence, Turin, Paris, Limoges. Each journey involved one overnight stop. The total cost of the travel, for two was 258 euros. The hotel in Zurich for one night cost about the same.

Return tickets London to Paris by Eurostar start at £78. So, start planning all the wonderful holidays you could have!

Yes, a fantastic site. And InterRail tickets are available to all, not just teenagers. And even First Class.

I dread to think what will happen when petrol and diesel cars are phased out unless there is a working public transport in place.

Seriously, outside of major towns and cities there will be a lot of older people (and younger ones on lower incomes) who won't be able to afford an electric car (which are also bad for the environment, incidentally), so won't be able to get to the doctor or dentist (if they can still get appointments), will have no social life at all, and will struggle to get to work or even to the shops. Yes, as someone pointed out upthread, there are deliveries, but I would hate to see people living lonely lives with no option to go anywhere, just being kept alive by having the Tesco van.

Public Transport is so important, but unless it is nationalised and/or subsidised before the change to EVs comes in we are heading for a fall.

As said, a simple political choice.

Same as water and other utilities.

Fleurpepper

As said, a simple political choice.

Same as water and other utilities.

Agreed.

Yes, the fares should be subsidised (far more than they are) until we have a free service - as we need to reduce traffic on the roads. The fare system is too complicated as well. Senior and junior rail cards are good if you'll make a few journeys within a year. Mine gave me a third off a fare. It's often cheaper to get a bus or cab to the station.

Take back control, they said. How can you take back control when you have sold all your essential utilities, be they water, energy, public transports, etc- to foreigners who are not interested or affected by those services- and want to make their public shareholders and services run more effectively. Nonsense.

www.facebook.com/leedsforeurope/videos/875170386799218

it just does not work

It can work if you are part of an association or group with which you share benefits- but not when you choose to dissociate yourself. Makes sense.