Shambles, unacceptable, disgusting are words which spring to mind when hearing of Arriva's proposals to cut rail services ('Trains are axed over shortage of drivers', Evening Press, September 5).
This is yet another clear indication of the failure of railway privatisation.
It would be grossly unfair to say that British Rail was whiter-than-white when it came to running its passenger service, however, bus substitutions were the exception, not the norm.
It is unacceptable for one company to run both road and rail services, especially when the alternative to providing a rail service will help profit its road operation.
We are told that there is to be no compensation for rail users who are forced into using the alternative bus services.
Many of us choose rail because it is seen as the better of these two forms of transport over intermediate and long distances.
Removing services from the timetable is, in reality, a total withdrawal of that service, not temporary as Arriva would have us believe.
Under British Rail any proposed withdrawal of passenger service had to be approved by the Transport Commission, notices published and displayed at affected stations allowing the travelling public to lodge their objections.
This was followed by an inquiry, which may or may not have recommended withdrawing the service.
All this was protection for the travelling public.
Where has this protection gone under privatisation?
Now is the time to remove the franchise from Arriva, and for the Rail Regulator to ensure that future franchises are not let to companies whose main business is running bus services.
A more positive step would be to have a nationalised rail passenger service, for the benefit of its users.
David Rhodes,
The Shrubberies,
Cliffe,
...SIXTY years ago we caught the old steam train at Malton to go on the Sunday School outing to Scarborough.
We were always greeted by the stoker, driver and the guard.
The train never failed to arrive on time and it never failed to be waiting on the platform to return us home.
What's gone wrong and, more importantly, why has it gone wrong?
Ken Holmes,
South Duffield Road,
Cliffe Common,
Selby.
Updated: 10:31 Tuesday, September 11, 2001
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