"mb" wrote in message ...

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

The amazing thing is that people are amazed by this. For most people
the railway system is pretty satisfactory. Sure, they'll have the
occasional grumble about ticket prices, toilets or mayonnaise in
sandwiches, but on the whole the system works pretty well.

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?

They do. They listen very closely. And what they hear is that people
really aren't too bothered by the state of the railway system and the
moment - and certainly not as much as they are bothered about other
things, like finding an NHS dentist, starting wars or reducing council
tax bills.

The "Bring Back Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock" party might be an
attractive idea on the platform ends in Stafford, but I don't think it
has the other parties terribly worried.

Ian