Petrol queues reported now on BBC news

I'm just amazed that so many people here (London) have been in such a complete panic over petrol. Those I know, mainly retired fellow dog walkers, seem unable or unwilling to even contemplate life without a car - even as a temporary measure.

Of course, some do need their car for work or school runs, for caring or appointments. My friends here, though, are keen walkers, have free use of buses and tubes, access to shopping home deliveries, everything available locally.

Still, a weird, frantic competition to fill up, at the earliest opportunity - and to hell with everyone else. proud tales of mornings and evenings spent touring the area, joining queues, spending endless hours in their quest for success.

All very pathetic, it seems. I pointed out that they behave just like addicts, determined to secure their next fix!

We can't, sadly, run double decker trains because our Victorian bridges are too low for them.

Example: you can travel from Milan to Venice in 2hrs 30 minutes and train tickets are about €20 plus over 65s get concessions automatically on showing ID - no need to buy a card. Trains are double deckers and comfortable. A similar length journey in U.K. ? could be as much as £150.

Rail travel in the U.K. is the most expensive in Europe by far. Buying a ticket is complicated and the service is not always reflective of the price. If we want to get more people out of their cars it would make sense to subside rail fares and not run them to line the pockets of private ( mostly foreign ) companies. I think if people realised they were paying these extortionate amounts to subside cheap fares in Italy and the Netherlands they would be much more vociferous in demanding nationalisation.

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Sounds s though taking the rail networks back into public ownership would be a good idea. Then wee wouldn't be paying all those profits to the foreign owners (generally foreign states).

Perhaps that's why rail travel in the EU is much cheaper than in the UK - their rail networks are partly funded by the the UK.

Richard Trevithick 1804 the first steam locomotive, would be turning in his grave at the selling of our national railway system. Think they should all be renationalised, and owned by the country.

Why? The owner of the track on which that first locomotive ran won a bet. Trevithick himself died penniless.

growstuff

lemongrove

If the railways are ever re-nationalised they will have to make a better job of it than they did before.....which is exactly why the railways were privatised in the first place, to make them run more efficiently.Neither system seems to work all that well.

No, they weren't. They were privatised to raise revenue for the government and provide profit for the shareholders. The system as a whole has never made a profit and always relied on subsidies. Nobody would expect the road system to make a profit.

Just more tripe from lemon

Just wait until she finds out about the NE route from London to Edinburgh... ?

Kali2

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Sounds s though taking the rail networks back into public ownership would be a good idea. Then wee wouldn't be paying all those profits to the foreign owners (generally foreign states).

Perhaps that's why rail travel in the EU is much cheaper than in the UK - their rail networks are partly funded by the the UK.

Richard Trevithick 1804 the first steam locomotive, would be turning in his grave at the selling of our national railway system. Think they should all be renationalised, and owned by the country.

And for once- we agree. So would by OH's great Uncle, also a great British locomotive engineer from the 19C.

But please remind me- who broke up British Rail and sold to all and sundry- to many foreigners? Same with our energy, including nuclear, our drinking water, airports, healthcare, and so much more.

And as said before, if you are planning on really annoying your foreign neighbours and partners, and show that that you cannot be trusted, your word and promises and deals can't be trusted - I'd say it is a good idea not to sell them your essential utilities and services first! Or?

Oh, FGS!

The British railways weren't nationalised until after WW2.

Neither Trevithick nor *Kali's OH's Great Uncle would have had any problem...

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Sounds s though taking the rail networks back into public ownership would be a good idea. Then wee wouldn't be paying all those profits to the foreign owners (generally foreign states).

Perhaps that's why rail travel in the EU is much cheaper than in the UK - their rail networks are partly funded by the the UK.

Richard Trevithick 1804 the first steam locomotive, would be turning in his grave at the selling of our national railway system. Think they should all be renationalised, and owned by the country.

The first railways were built to make a profit - for no other reason. Some of the money came from compensation paid out to slave owners, who needed somewhere to invest their money.

JaneJudge

lemongrove

It would never have been much of a problem if people had bought ‘normally’ in the first place.

loads of us didn't but normally because we couldn't because of the shortages and queues and subsequent closures which started last Thursday
I think MOST people that work need to fill up once a week. It is hardly being greedy

Exactly! People are in panic mode when they need to makes sure they have fuel to go to work, take their children to school, visit vulnerable relatives, etc etc.

I don't suppose it's possible to find out, but I wouldn't be surprised if people have cancelled some trips to save fuel and used fuel driving around to find some in the first place.

lemongrove

If the railways are ever re-nationalised they will have to make a better job of it than they did before.....which is exactly why the railways were privatised in the first place, to make them run more efficiently.Neither system seems to work all that well.

No, they weren't. They were privatised to raise revenue for the government and provide profit for the shareholders. The system as a whole has never made a profit and always relied on subsidies. Nobody would expect the road system to make a profit.

The ultimate irony has to be the tweet this morning from Nigel Farage, is this poetic justice?

"I went to 7 petrol stations this morning and there was no fuel at any of them.

"Was then hit by a van whilst stationary at a roundabout. Great start to the day!"

lemongrove

It would never have been much of a problem if people had bought ‘normally’ in the first place.

What does 'normally' mean?

Is the HGV driver shortage been resolved? If not- then I am afraid you are in for a big shock!

lemongrove

If the railways are ever re-nationalised they will have to make a better job of it than they did before.....which is exactly why the railways were privatised in the first place, to make them run more efficiently.Neither system seems to work all that well.

That is complete tripe, lemon.

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Sounds s though taking the rail networks back into public ownership would be a good idea. Then wee wouldn't be paying all those profits to the foreign owners (generally foreign states).

Perhaps that's why rail travel in the EU is much cheaper than in the UK - their rail networks are partly funded by the the UK.

Richard Trevithick 1804 the first steam locomotive, would be turning in his grave at the selling of our national railway system. Think they should all be renationalised, and owned by the country.

I don't think he would be, Lincslass.

I don't think you have any idea of how the UK railway system developed

You can only let your fuel get low if you know you can top it up when you need to. I had ongoing problems with a car that I drove on an almost empty tank and I’ve always resolved to keep my car over half full. There are going to be a lot of people having engine problems if they’ve driven their car on an almost empty tank. I need enough petrol to get my dog to the vets if she has a problem, get myself to the dentists (which is what happened this week). The garages in my village closed down years ago and I now have to drive several miles to fill up. I won’t use public transport these days partly because of covid but also because my bladder isn’t the best and I need to get to where I’m going and get back as quickly as possible!

Maybe the difference between two weeks ago and now is that people are going back to work, school and food shopping etc., normal life now. For the first 10 days the cars had been filled during the holidays and didn’t need to filling up, until now. In addition people are trying travel by car avoiding the spread of covid.

lemongrove

It would never have been much of a problem if people had bought ‘normally’ in the first place.

loads of us didn't but normally because we couldn't because of the shortages and queues and subsequent closures which started last Thursday
I think MOST people that work need to fill up once a week. It is hardly being greedy

silverlining48

It’s still not settling down here in the south east. We havnt been out for a week and can’t risk driving roundsearching/queuing as we have so little petrol left. Luckily no plans to go any distance, but need to get some soon.

same here
i am fed up of people saying oh dear, no dear, it doesn't affect me dear

It’s still not settling down here in the south east. We havnt been out for a week and can’t risk driving roundsearching/queuing as we have so little petrol left. Luckily no plans to go any distance, but need to get some soon.

It would never have been much of a problem if people had bought ‘normally’ in the first place.

Has the shortage of drivers been resolved then lemong?

Bought petrol easily near Monmouth recently, no queues either.Think that things are settling down after all the initial panic buying.

If the railways are ever re-nationalised they will have to make a better job of it than they did before.....which is exactly why the railways were privatised in the first place, to make them run more efficiently.Neither system seems to work all that well.

Lincslass

Dinahmo

Sounds s though taking the rail networks back into public ownership would be a good idea. Then wee wouldn't be paying all those profits to the foreign owners (generally foreign states).

Perhaps that's why rail travel in the EU is much cheaper than in the UK - their rail networks are partly funded by the the UK.

Richard Trevithick 1804 the first steam locomotive, would be turning in his grave at the selling of our national railway system. Think they should all be renationalised, and owned by the country.

And for once- we agree. So would by OH's great Uncle, also a great British locomotive engineer from the 19C.

But please remind me- who broke up British Rail and sold to all and sundry- to many foreigners? Same with our energy, including nuclear, our drinking water, airports, healthcare, and so much more.

And as said before, if you are planning on really annoying your foreign neighbours and partners, and show that that you cannot be trusted, your word and promises and deals can't be trusted - I'd say it is a good idea not to sell them your essential utilities and services first! Or?

GranyGravy
Enjoy ? My daughter had her wedding there.
They seem to have retained all their foreign service staff. ?