mb wrote:
"Mike" wrote in message
.. .

I haven't got the latest Rail mag out today but just reading through the
last one have to say I agree with what Wolmar says about the election.

I quite like this bit: "There may well be the odd extra sentence or two
about the railways, but mostly, for politicians, rail will be like the
war when Basil Fawlty had German guests: "Don't mention it.""

IT's also on Google - http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/rail/511.shtml
and something else 'Election manifestos fail to address transport
issues' http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/online/april05.shtml


M


True but not really surprising. The politicos dare not mention it. They know
that even without the ghastly fragmentation that followed privatisation, a
near half-century of political interference and under-investment had left
the railway system in an awful state, for which they were chiefly to blame.

No disrespect is intended to the worthy assistance that Parliament received
from Messrs. R. Gunter, S. Weighell, R. Buckton et. al. in bringing about
the decline of the railways.

The amazing thing is that people still want to use the rail system, and in
ever-increasing numbers too.

So if for a moment you thought that what the electorate wants really matters
to politicians, think again. Since when did they ever listen to the voters?





I'm sure there was some opinion poll that put transport something like
fourth in the list of voter concerns, but I guess this is mostly to do
with traffic congestion and fuel tax, not the railways!

M