What would Thomas the Tank Engine make of Labour’s railway fare cuts?
It seems like a win for passengers and the industry – but the reality isn’t that simple, says James Moore
These are happy days for Thomas the Tank Engine. Labour has promised to slash rail fares. It might be the biggest boost for the Island of Sodor’s cheerful engines since a TV executive thought there might be some legs in adapting the series of children’s books written by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry for the small screen.
Suddenly the railways, which have been a mess ever since a previous privatisation-obsessed Tory government turned the Fat Controller into a fat cat executive on a bonus package that doesn’t so much as mention passengers, are the belles of the political ball! How about a celebratory choo choo?
But is this a sensible policy? Oi, pipe down you at the back, complaining that it’s hardly even worth asking that question in a Britain where political debate has descended into the Great British Bulls*** Bake Off.
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