August 12.
Your wearisome columnist Brian Wilson is at it again, spreading fears
that the railway system will collapse under privatisation (August 11).
It is a pity he never saw a non-nationalised railway at work. How a
little competition wrought marvels in service, speed and safety. Private
train and steamer to Arran from Glasgow in 1892 took 80 minutes. The
present nationalised system takes 127 minutes.
Pre-nationalisation, one ticket could take you through all company
networks -- and that without a computerised clearing house.
As Brian Wilson sipped his coffee on the Oban train -- a successful
franchise facility -- perhaps he could have reflected on what was
available some years ago.
A comfortable LMS restaurant car, where every seat had a picture
window, and being served with a sumptuous high tea while passing Loch
Etive and Loch Awe on the way to Glasgow. These were the days!
Indeed, Brian Wilson must have heard that it was private railways
which developed every rail mile in Scotland and a nationalised railway
which removed it from large areas of our land.
John Todd,
37 Saltcoats Drive,
Grangemouth.
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