Getting Around (1)

Posted by Colin Harvey Oct 12, 2009

After almost a quarter of a century of working in Bristol City centre, I've not only changed careers, but changed location as well. And it's brought me bumping up against the issue that is transport in the UK.

Last week saw me have to go to campus twice in one day. It brought into sharp relief just how isolated the campus was. Incidentally, I had finally accepted that I really, really dislike driving -- I have a licence, so in an emergency I can do it, but I found it really unpleasant.

On Tuesday morning the bus was half an hour late and turned up with the next scheduled service following right behind....

And on Saturday I was late for my train, having been unavoidably held up getting across London from the Angel. But it didn't matter. I had a ticket, so I'd get the next train. What I hadn't read was the small print on the ticket. Instead of saying the usual "valid after 4 o'clock" it actually said "valid at 4 o'clock."

"I'm sorry sir, this ticket isn't valid," Jobsworth said in a tone that said he wasn't sorry at all. "It's a £76 fare, I'm afraid."

"What?" I replied.

He relented and charged me a mere £24.50 on top of the £17.50 I'd already paid (each way) by pre-booking. I'm not quite sure why a 4.30pm train on a Saturday (and yes, the timetables do note the day of the week) should be so much more more expensive than a 4pm train. What do all these journeys have in common?

Among many other things, First Group Ltd.

They are the company who run buses throughout the region, train journeys to many regions, and with Stagecoach (other company) anhave carved up the country into a duopoly of transport providers making a profit out of providing a so-called transport infrastructure, while being subsidized on unprofitable routes by local government. That's you and me, by the way.

More on this tomorrow.