Winter trains crisis

RECENTLY, the Guardian reported briefly on the Parliamentary Select Committee which is currently looking into the Impact On Transportation Recent Adverse Weather Conditions. ie pre-Christmas 2010. I thought that the title was a bit of an understatement in all the circumstances, but it was disappointing to see that the focus, once again, didn't seem to be on the primary issue of train movement. To emphasise the point further, only last week, local TV coverage on this was just about asking people if they'd like more information. Who is going to say no, especially when a train has not arrived? As I thought I was out of time in relation to the Parliamentary investigation, I wrote directly to the Chair, Louis Ellman MP. Utilising correspondence to the Bexhill Observer, I focused on the question that most people would probaly want to have asked: what is being done to ensure trains will run in bad weather? I mentioned the fact that £3 million had been spent on a failed experiment and that trains with hot air blowers seem to operate in snowy northern Scotland. In addition I said that, as a relative outsider, I had been shocked to see just how vulnerable this part of the country is, if trains can't run.

To my surprise, I then received an e-mail advising that my submissions had been acccepted in evidence to the Ccmmittee. There would appear to be scope for others to do the same - especially those who had to struggle home in dangerous conditions. I’m sure that the railway company will be happy to play the “let’s rely on it not happening again” game for 2011 but imagine last winter’s crisis lasting for six or eight weeks, instead of three, with no rail life line. “Action this day,” as Churchill wrote - but I’m too young to remember - really.

DAVE WALSH

Rotherfield Avenue

Bexhill-on-Sea

Related topics: