Make This the Day You Campaign for Better Transport

Running a railway costs a fortune even though (as far as I know) the diesel locomotives are running on red diesel. Over sixties can buy a Senior Railcard which does help but in the UK most things are expensive. Having travelled from Exeter to Bristol Temple Meads in great comfort and averaging about 90 mph the fares are good value.

Some complaints do have to be made however. An infuriating experience was the lift on the footbridge at Taunton. I had of course been told the wrong platform which would have been the right platform earlier in the day. Having seen numerous trains come and go I asked one of the platform staff. He directed me to another platform and said that there was a train due and if I was quick I might just get it. The problem as I discovered was that one of the stairways on the bridge had been replaced with a lift. I was in the lift travelling towards the correct platform when somebody called the lift back! It was railway workers. Just then the train pulled in. Eventually the lift started going back down again but when it was halfway down I heard the whistle blow and the train was gone. I then had to wait for over an hour. Public transport don't you just love it? WHY AREN'T THE LIFT BUTTONS ONE-SHOT? In future I plan to never ever travel on trains that change at Taunton as these bungles wasted over two hours.

As to the bargain basement bus travel, its appalling! The drivers only do about an hours driving before they swap hence mechanical problems with the bus aren't bothered about. One bus must have had a failed Hardy-Spicer joint in its prop shaft as tremendous vibration would begin at 50mph. Climbing the M62 it was the slowest vehicle on the motorway even being trounced by heavily laden lorries (good job it was only a third full!) When it arrived in the north east it was two hours late! Its a funny company as to avoid parking dues at bus depots the buses sometimes stop at pubs or civic buildings that have a public loo. There is also a free mystery tour included. Other people who have used the service have said NEVER AGAIN and I have to agree 100%. The car is king.