Railway misery

So a national newspaper has run an essay about a nightmare on the railways.

First, there is no requirement on Britain's railways to have a seat booked.  Therefore overcrowding is possible.  Second, on a bank holiday weekend we should expect a greater likelihood of overcrowding. Third, trains do break down from time to time.

Fourth, people who argue for renationalisation of the railways should reflect that the railways were far from perfect before privatisation.  We had crowded trains in those days. We had trains that crashed and trains that broke down.  I once travelled on an express train which had no buffet car, although I did take my own food.  Other passengers had to starve.

And worst of all, people were killed falling from trains because British Rail refused to admit that locks on train doors were faulty, and the government were stupid enough to believe them.