Should railway passengers face fare rise?
IT is difficult to understand the Government’s policy on paying for improvements on the railways. When they were operated as not-for-profit organisations, it was not unreasonable to fund improvements that reduced running cost, increased capacity or boosted revenues by fare increases. However, other private industries have to finance such works from profits or borrowing. Under the Government’s policy, the railways are allowed an ever-increasing percentage for improvements through fare increases. The railways should be renationalised or the train companies required to finance their business in the same way as all other industries. A. B. CREWS, Beckenham, Kent. THIS summer, I visited Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden by rail. The cost in mainland Europe was 21p per mile compared with 65p per mile in Britain. European governments subsidise rail networks to support their infrastructure, while we face an above inflation rise in ticket prices. RICHARD WHITAKER, Wokingham, Berks. I AM stunned that ‘slam door’ train carriages are back (Mail). While it is quite funny that ScotRail have had to make a video to explain the concept to millennials accustomed to push-button powered doors, there is a more serious issue here. Why are passengers who pay a fortune having to use old rolling stock, refurbished or not? TONY ANDERSON, Paisley, Renfrewshire. TRAIN prices are to increase in the New Year, but why should we have to pay extra for a poor service? SUE HUDSON, New Milton, Hants.