Nightmare of train fares! Rant, what rant?

If you are not a user of the rail system... maybe you don't have any cause or reason to travel by train... then you won't know what a nightmare the fares 'system' is for all passengers.

I have been grumbling about the number of two carriage trains which we see daily - but having heard of the way you have to buy tickets with the infinite number of 'choices', plus how easy it is to infringe the conditions of the ticket - then why anybody would actually choose rail travel as a mode of transport beats me. It most certainly wouldn't be because it is reasonably priced!

[Incidentally if you do infringe the ticket conditions, even it seems that the rail company are gaining from your different choice... you are made to feel like a criminal - witness a case mentioned on the BBC Breakfast show today!]

Add to these problems the fact that if you telephone for train times or other local information, then you will be put through to a most definitely NOT local call centre - the person on the other end will gabble the information, speak with an accent you cannot understand, or give so many choices you end up more confused than when you began the call.

A simple, easy to understand, reasonably priced system is what is required - with trains on time, no trouble, no fuss, no overcrowding - is this too much to ask?

Until that day most other modes of transport seem infinitely more preferable - from walking to flying.