Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Integrated transport system my arse
I've been traveling on the train quite a bit recently - mainly because I've racked up so many points on my licence that I try and avoid traveling by car.
To be honest, going by train is pretty good. I've been stuck in jams so many times over the years, which makes you very cross - and very hot in the summer.
Driving is also very boring. You have to concentrate and all there is to do is listen to tapes/ cds or the radio. And you could have the music collection of a radio station and you'd still be bored after a while.
Train journeys can also be boring but at least you can wander around, read a book, sort out stuff, eat and drink. You aren't trying to work out when it's best to travel as well because you might get caught up in rush hour round Nottingham or there's roadworks on the M6.
Train travel should be the way forward. So why don't I do it more often? The answer, of course, is cost and also reliability. And the fact that the other passengers can be a tad annoying at times. And it can take longer getting from door to door. But mainly cost.
I got a cheap deal the other day of £20 to go to Hull and back from Manchester. That to me is a good price. So why does it cost £55 to get a return to Newcastle? I don't know whether it's GNER or Virgin to blame but I'm going for both of them.
What really pisses me off is he fact that it's so tricky to park near stations. So many more people would use the trains if they could getoot the stations in the first place. But, try and park there and it costs a bomb. I used to live near the Underground, which was great for me to get into London. But there was nowhere for anywhere to park if they lived further away.
Newcastle has a great Metro system. But now they're charging people to park. Why? Even an idiot would realise charging people to park stops commuters from using the metro and getting into their cars.
In Radcliffe, there is free car park for the Metrolink. Each day, it is packed, as are the trams which are quick, efficient, reliable and not dependent on traffic.Expensive though) And that's the end of my story of how free car parks near stations and reliable transport makes sure that public transport is well used.
To be honest, going by train is pretty good. I've been stuck in jams so many times over the years, which makes you very cross - and very hot in the summer.
Driving is also very boring. You have to concentrate and all there is to do is listen to tapes/ cds or the radio. And you could have the music collection of a radio station and you'd still be bored after a while.
Train journeys can also be boring but at least you can wander around, read a book, sort out stuff, eat and drink. You aren't trying to work out when it's best to travel as well because you might get caught up in rush hour round Nottingham or there's roadworks on the M6.
Train travel should be the way forward. So why don't I do it more often? The answer, of course, is cost and also reliability. And the fact that the other passengers can be a tad annoying at times. And it can take longer getting from door to door. But mainly cost.
I got a cheap deal the other day of £20 to go to Hull and back from Manchester. That to me is a good price. So why does it cost £55 to get a return to Newcastle? I don't know whether it's GNER or Virgin to blame but I'm going for both of them.
What really pisses me off is he fact that it's so tricky to park near stations. So many more people would use the trains if they could getoot the stations in the first place. But, try and park there and it costs a bomb. I used to live near the Underground, which was great for me to get into London. But there was nowhere for anywhere to park if they lived further away.
Newcastle has a great Metro system. But now they're charging people to park. Why? Even an idiot would realise charging people to park stops commuters from using the metro and getting into their cars.
In Radcliffe, there is free car park for the Metrolink. Each day, it is packed, as are the trams which are quick, efficient, reliable and not dependent on traffic.Expensive though) And that's the end of my story of how free car parks near stations and reliable transport makes sure that public transport is well used.
