WHEN it seems that all and sundry are calling for motorists to leave their cars at home and get to work on public transport, a double dose of criticism of local rail travel underlines that argument's basic flaw.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has called for greater powers to ensure that train operators give a better service to passengers.

And the Rail Users' Consultative Committee has heavily criticised First North Western and Virgin Rail, the two main companies serving Bolton. Virgin has hiked up its prices at an "astonishing rate," they say, and there is generally overcrowding and delays on the train network.

There is really no reason why train fares should not be cheaper (perhaps with concessionary fares at the morning peak time), and trains run on time and efficiently - all to complement an integrated public transport system. Passengers would certainly settle for something close to that.

Instead, rising petrol prices are clobbering the motorist into submitting to whatever public transport system is on offer.

As today's story reveals, the service is currently falling well short, with complaints at an all-time high. Bolton has also failed to be chosen to be connected to the excellent Metrolink.

If the Government is serious about discouraging people from using private cars then there must be one major incentive - a public transport system that really works, every day.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.