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Traingate

(832 Posts)
thatbags Tue 23-Aug-16 21:21:06

No, I don't think reserving a seat costs much, or anything, but I do think it costs more to travel by train nowadays. I don't remember thinking it was awfully expensive between Preston and Dundee when I was a student, but I do think it is now so not unreasonable to expect a seat.

However, what kind of a dopey team didn't book seats anyhow?

durhamjen Tue 23-Aug-16 21:19:40

There's an article in the Independent about it, Pollen.
What happened was that the staff moved a family into first class so that Corbyn's group could have their seats.
Corbyn had said that he would not upgrade to first class. I thought that MPs were not supposed to travel first class anymore, after the Osborne fiasco a few years ago.

thatbags Tue 23-Aug-16 21:18:12

I don't care who is or isn't telling the truth about the story. PR stunts from both sides is what looks most likely.

I'm just reminiscing about having to sit on floors of trains when the railways were nationalised and so wondering why Corbyn seems to think it would make a difference now, since it didn't then.

You never do get piss-takes, do you, dj? smile

Anniebach Tue 23-Aug-16 21:17:18

thatbags, love the thread title, it gave me s giggle . I haven't travelled by train for years, does it cost much more money to reserve a seat ?

Pollengran Tue 23-Aug-16 21:14:38

I would like to know the CCTV timeline. It does make Jeremy Corbyn look as if he was embellishing the truth, but the way the MSM are laying into him, I would like further evidence.

This could be damaging for him, so it is important to investigate further. I really hope he didn't try a PR stunt.

durhamjen Tue 23-Aug-16 21:08:56

So who do you believe about the saga, the people who were on the train, or the person who owns the train company, doesn't want it nationalised, and doesn't pay his taxes properly?

Branson has many reasons to get back at Corbyn.

voxpoliticalonline.com/2016/08/23/who-do-you-believe-about-corbyns-train-trip-the-profit-making-rail-company-or-the-politician-set-on-re-nationalisation/

thatbags Tue 23-Aug-16 20:31:01

The silliest thing about the Corbyn "Traingate" fiasco is that before the railways were privatised, I often had to sit on the floor toing and froing between Preston and Edinburgh. Sometimes there was no buffet car. And the toilets were often disgusting.

I guess Corbyn didn't travel by train much back then hmm

However, the trains I travelled on usually had more space for luggage than current Virgin trains.