Something to make my blood boil

I have just read this article in The Times, which talks about yet more meddling and intervention by our beloved government in the railway network. For those of us who have no option but to rely on public transport it is yet another kick in the teeth, and makes a complete mockery of the government's alleged plans to encourage people out of their cars. I don't drive for medical reasons, which can be an inconvenience and it'd be nice if sometimes my life were a little easier. But how long before the services are cut so much that those who have an alternative such as the car use it, regardless of environmental conisderations?

I'd advise reading the whole article, but here are a couple of choice snippets.

"The Department for Transport last week tried to blame First Group, Britain’s biggest train company, for a series of cuts across the West Country.

But a document obtained by The Times reveals that the cuts were ordered by the DfT, which is trying to reduce the £5 billion annual rail subsidy by more than £1 billion."

So, not only are they cutting back services (again) but they have had the cheek to lie (again) and blame somebody else.

New train franchises are apparently very tightly controlled by the DfT, as this paragraph highlights.

“The significant difference this time is that although train companies clearly must run the services specified, they CANNOT run any more. In addition, any changes must first be agreed with the DfT.”

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the railways were doing very well and improving no end until the monkeys in Westminster started to poke around. It's been nothing but lies and spin and in the last couple of years getting around without a car has become noticeably harder and more expensive in some cases. You'd have thought that after Stephen Byers was hauled up for interfering maliciously and then made to apologise for lying (sorry, "telling an untruth" *cough*) they'd have learnt their lesson. But no.

This newspaper article shows very clearly that we have a dishonest government, which does not appear to care about giving Britain a transport system which can be relied on. For the ministers in their limos it's not a problem of course - John Prescott does not have the nickname "two Jags" for nothing. Even if they start charging us for road use, John Prescott's fees will doubtless come out of the taxpayer's pocket. I wonder sometimes if these jokers think of the general population at all, and it makes me sick.

The sooner they are out of power and bought to justice the better. Somehow I fear that we'll have to suffer it for a while. Don't blame me, I didn't vote for them (but if you did hang your head in shame).