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From The Times
November 7, 2002

Railways in difficulty

From Professor Tom Cannon
Sir, Isn’t it about time we acknowledged that we no longer have a national railway service? Any argument that this week’s difficulties are unusual simply does not hold water, even after these storms (report, October 28). I was delayed for two hours on my journey from Manchester to London, but last week it was an hour, the week before one and a half hours and the week before three hours.

Today, Virgin’s excuses ran from slipping wheels at Stoke, engine failure in Manchester to missing crew. A wrong announcement at Stockport meant that passengers boarded and then were asked to disembark.

The current structure is fatally flawed and will not work.

I felt sorry for myself until we were joined at Watford by passengers from the Glasgow sleeper (due in at 07.30, but arrived at 13.00). My journey and my money were wasted. Where was I going? To Downing Street to celebrate the achievements of Barbara Castle at an event hosted by Gordon Brown.

The only solution is a fundamental rethink of our transport system; or is that too much like the old Labour ideas espoused by Barbara?

Yours sincerely,
TOM CANNON,
13 Old Broadway,
Manchester M20 3DH.
October 29.

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