Britain’s Third World Transport Infrastructure
OK, that headline is probably an insult to the third world…
Since I have been commuting to Parliament by bike, I have been spared the worst of London’s transport system. But every time I have used the tube recently, it has basically broken down. I have just given up trying to get to a meeting near Baker Street - three stops on the Jubilee Line - because it has just been suspended. No explanation of course - why don’t the people who run things like the tube realise that informing passengers is half the battle? And it cost me £1.50 on the Oyster Card for my ten minute wait on the platform.
I could go on about the First Great Western service between Didcot and London, but as I have had a whole parliamentary debate on that, I won’t.
Returning from holiday to Stansted (annoyingly Ryanair were punctual and efficient, even if they are Gordon Brown-esque in terms of stealth taxes) we had an hour long wait at passport control because BAA like to land 50 planes in 2 hours on a Sunday night, and the Home Office/BAA can’t be bothered/say it’s impossible to lay on extra passport officers. Apparently it’s like that every Sunday and most evenings. When are we going to break up BAA’s monopoly? They’re better at running shopping centres than airports.
Rant over.
UPDATE: The following received from a technologically challenged friend…
I’m not very good at online posting though I read your blog everyday. I am sufficiently moved today to say: I am so pleased someone with influence has cottoned on to BAA. Stansted is indisputably shocking but what is far, far worse I think is Heathrow Terminal 4. Every morning it is the same at passport control. Total shambles. What visitors to this country must think one dreads to think. The physical environment is worse than any airport I encountered in Africa and they cannot even have all the immigration desks open. Is it BAA or the Home Office or the Immigration Service? Who knows? The cost to this country is incalculable and I feel like writing to Gwyneth Dunwoody or John Denham to see if they couldn’t summon these people to a Select committee.
Nasrin Azadeh said on May 2nd, 2007 at 7:16 pm:
This is endorsement on the comments for Terminal four. As first impressions always count. The lighting in the context of dark red carpeting does not spark enthusiasm among new comers. Light royal blue is the colour of Britain, in my view.