Train of Thought.

Apologies for the heading, but as the media have been having fun with puns, I thought I might as well join in.

And while, on one level, it may be amusing to witness the ‘battle of the beards’, or ‘the grapple of the greys’, there is something a little more serious to be considered.

Firstly, Jeremy Corbyn commented on the train being ram packed, and sat on the floor in the corridor until later taking a seat for the remainder of his journey. On the surface, a fairly basic statement of dissatisfaction with provision on the railway line being travelled.

Accusations of making cheap political points would perhaps be valid, but only assuming that the other passengers, a mother and baby and a couple celebrating their third anniversary, amongst others, were also doing the same. Which they clearly weren’t. Never mind the provision of selected excerpts of CCTV by Virgin – would it be cynical to assume some bits were left out?

At no stage did Corbyn name the franchise company, and in fact he praised the staff for their efforts to provide as good a service as possible for all the passengers. Offered an upgrade to 1st Class he refused as it wasn’t fair on the other ‘corridor’ passengers, but took seats vacated by a family that were upgraded.

The farce begins when the other graybeard, Richard Branson, decides to wade into the fray, with various attempts to dismiss the situation as political posturing. Ignoring the question of whether Branson pays his taxes in the UK, Virgin Trains, along with almost every other train franchise, receive billions in subsidies from us.

Which means that we pay the franchises their profits. Against a background of ever-rising rail fares well above inflation. Why wouldn’t Branson squeal when someone with access to media coverage highlights the shortcomings of a privatised service that has fallen so far short of what is should, and put billions into his pocket, along with the other franchise owners.

The logic of re-nationalising a public service is undeniable, except of course by the billionaires who profit from it. So, taking the source of two opposing views, I am more confident in accepting that put forward by someone who is NOT looking to make money from it.