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On Fri, Mar 07, 2014 at 08:42:44AM +0000, Tom wrote: > While there are some relatively weak energy saving arguments for > trains the use of modern computing power and minibuses can provide a > door to door service lot more efficiently and cheaper for the > majority of passengers. I love trains. And not having a car, or a license to drive one, I do use them when I need to travel to anywhere else in England, like I've used them to travel throughout Europe in the past. But I acknowledge they're mostly a thing of the past. Many countries outside Europe don't run any passenger trains any more. It simply is a lot cheaper, and more flexible, to run buses and coaches. One big advantage that a train does have is that you can actually do some work in them, especially with GPRS or, even better, Internet on board. (I've never use the latter, so I don't know how reliable it is; add "in theory" to the previous sentence if it isn't.) I've heard people say that it would be a lot cheaper to make long-distance trains (even) better places to work in rather than to invest in high-speed railway lines. As for the re-routing of the Exeter-Plymouth railway: apart from the fact that it's kind of tricky in a country that isn't run like China, what would then the solution be for the people living inbetween Exeter and Plymouth? Martijn. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq