Gwyneth Dunwoody is committed to the idea that rail is a “public service”.  Why on earth should that be?  After all, those from households in the top quintile of income travel 4 times as far annually by rail as do those from either of the two bottom quintiles and half of us use a train less than once a year.  Meanwhile your leader bewails the lack of “investment” in rail at a time when rail absorbs £5 billion annually from the taxpayer and when taxes, along with administrative costs, take 50% of GDP.  We comment, if the Government wishes to subidise some well deserving would be travellers then pay them the money leaving them to decide how to spend it.  Meanwhile, rather that costing the earth, there should be a general presumption that taxes should be limited to 25% of GDP. That would both stimulate economic growth and prevent Government, in its lust for power, from enslaving all of us.
 
Paul F Withrington (Director Transport Watch)

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