Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Savonarola]

Since we're talking British trains...

On our trip we stayed at this charming little cottage in the highlands, but to get to the cottage you had to cross a private rail crossing.  There was a phone, you'd say the name of your crossing, and then wait to be told whether it was safe or not.

Well one time they did say a train would be by soon, so I decided to wait and see it.  It turned out to be this absolutely miniscule 2-car train.

Looking it up now the train served the nearby village of Ardgay (running essentially as a commuter line into Inverness), which according to Wiki has an annual train usage of 8,000 people.  That seems absurdly inefficient to keep such a tiny train service running.

If they have freight on the line as well then that's not so bad; the big cost is maintaining the track.  If they're maintaining track for a two car passenger train then that's a fantastic waste of money.  A bus would be much more economical than that.

[garbon]

First experience on first class on Virgin Trains in one of the new trains. So much space, it is fantastic. Thanks, bank holiday, for driving up prices so much that it was basically the same price for standard and first class.

[Gups]

First experience on first class on Virgin Trains in one of the new trains. So much space, it is fantastic. Thanks, bank holiday, for driving up prices so much that it was basically the same price for standard and first class.

For reasons I don't pretend to understand, first class is sometimes cheaper than second.

[Josquius]

That's one of the things that needs fixing about the British system.

[Barrister]

Since we're talking British trains...

On our trip we stayed at this charming little cottage in the highlands, but to get to the cottage you had to cross a private rail crossing.  There was a phone, you'd say the name of your crossing, and then wait to be told whether it was safe or not.

Well one time they did say a train would be by soon, so I decided to wait and see it.  It turned out to be this absolutely miniscule 2-car train.

Looking it up now the train served the nearby village of Ardgay (running essentially as a commuter line into Inverness), which according to Wiki has an annual train usage of 8,000 people.  That seems absurdly inefficient to keep such a tiny train service running.

If they have freight on the line as well then that's not so bad; the big cost is maintaining the track.  If they're maintaining track for a two car passenger train then that's a fantastic waste of money.  A bus would be much more economical than that.

I looked it up - passenger line only.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Since Dr Beeching inflicted terrible trauma on the British psyche back in the 1960s, by closing about a third of the rail network, it has become almost blasphemous to suggest further closures. These uneconomic branch lines are highly prized by the populace 

[Sheilbh]

Bus services in place of these small trainlines was proposed by Beeching then never properly implemented. So never again

[Duque de Bragança]

First experience on first class on Virgin Trains in one of the new trains. So much space, it is fantastic. Thanks, bank holiday, for driving up prices so much that it was basically the same price for standard and first class.

For reasons I don't pretend to understand, first class is sometimes cheaper than second.

WUT?

[Sheilbh]

Yeah. I've had it be cheaper to go first class on Eurostar!

Also just discovered it's far cheaper to buy a first class ticket even a day in advance than it is to get standard class on the day when I go home. Which is normally worth it for space and plugs on a three hour train.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well, to be honest getting a discount first class ticket is sometimes cheaper, I have seen it in France and Germany during some sales but ONLY a day in advance?

[celedhring]

I have also seen first class train tickets being cheaper in Spain, if you happen to hit them at the right time.

[Richard Hakluyt]

What is very common on the West coast route is a chance to upgrade for only £15 or so. Not bad when you can get a free meal and a G&T out of it as well as the other benefits.

[mongers]

What is very common on the West coast route is a chance to upgrade for only £15 or so. Not bad when you can get a free meal and a G&T out of it as well as the other benefits.

Good tip, worth knowing.

[Tamas]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/30/five-teenage-boys-arrested-after-man-dies-following-attack-in-essex

He spoke Polish.

[Josquius]

Garbon: Be happy.
Tamas: Be afraid.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/08/29/now-were-out-of-the-eu-we-can-bring-back-britains-other-pound/