Engine Punk

The local paper grabbed my attention this week. The headline “Station parking fees are slashed by half” misses the point entirely. 12 months ago there were no parking fees at Liskeard station at all. They were imposed last year by First Great Western. This broke a gentleman’s agreement between the council and the rail operator, where the council re-surfaced the carpark at rate payer’s expense in return for an assurance that parking fees would not be introduced. Now people who refuse to pay these fees by parking on the street are being depicted as anti-social. The council are threatening to paint double yellow lines around the station to “ensure that people park responsibly”. Liskeard rail commuters are trying to do their bit for the environment by using public transport. They do not wish to antagonise people who live around Liskeard station because they travel with them on the train. It is not in their interests to park irresponsibly. But it seems entirely in the interests of First Gre...

Although I am a confirmed car and bike nut, I am also an enthusiastic user of public transport. It's so agreeable to look out of the window as you fly over rivers and roll through the rolling countryside. You can talk to your fellow passengers (they are a lively and fascinating lot) or you can have a nap if the day job has been strenuous. Since, embracing rail travel between Liskeard and Plymouth, I have become something of a leisure driver and enjoy being the behind much more. I am there because I want to be, not because I have to be. Rail ticket prices rose by about 6% at the start of this year but even with petrol at about 85p a litre I still think rail travel is preferable. Punctuality has improved in the seven years I've been using the train and there's less crowding. Fewer trains than seven years ago but still less crowding, which must indicate a migration to the roads. Last week this insidious little sign appeared on the fence at Liskeard station announcing ...