The vision of a perfectly efficient, human-free railway network has suffered a significant setback. The UK's rail regulator has bowed to public pressure and reinstated the early morning passenger service from Manchester to London, a move that has sparked debate about the future direction of the country's transport policy.
A Pilot Scheme Derailed by Passenger Demand
In a decision reported on 4 December, the regulator reversed course on plans to axe the 7am Manchester to London train. The service had been earmarked for removal as part of a pilot scheme that envisioned running so-called 'ghost trains' – services without passengers to optimise scheduling and efficiency across the network. Proponents saw this as a step towards a streamlined system, but the reinstatement has left some, like Dr David Webster from Crewe, Cheshire, lamenting a lost opportunity. He expressed disappointment that the 'moaning minnies' had succeeded, stating: "Gone now is the dream of an efficient rail service unencumbered by the demands of so-called 'humans' and their messy ways."
Broader Reactions from Guardian Readers
The train debate featured among a collection of Brief Letters published by the Guardian, which covered a diverse range of topics. In response to Nicola Chester's Country Diary entry on 3 December, Elaine Steane from Oxford highlighted two serious points concerning dog-related injuries and the risks of giving hot sweet tea before anaesthesia.
Meanwhile, the protest at the Tower of London on 6 December, where the Crown Jewels display was targeted with an apple crumble, drew a wry observation. Jim Watson from Stroud, Gloucestershire noted it was reassuring the dessert was a 'patriotic' apple crumble and custard, rather than a foreign alternative like tiramisu or baklava.
Sporting Irony and Inaptly Named Buildings
In other correspondence, Peter Dewar from Bromley, London sarcastically suggested that awarding a FIFA peace prize to Donald Trump on 5 December would be a great boost for rugby union. The letters section also continued its discussion on inaptly named buildings, with David Kirkpatrick from Odiham, Hampshire contributing the example of a large building in Alabama, USA, called the 'Mobile library'.
These snippets, from rail policy to patriotic pudding, illustrate the wide-ranging concerns and humorous observations of the British public, as shared through one of the nation's leading newspaper forums.
