Train driver lets taxi take the strain for 200 miles
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.JOHN RENTOUL
A rail company which is soon to be privatised pays a train driver to take a taxi every morning to travel 200 miles from Derby to Newcastle, Brian Wilson, Labour's Transport spokesman, told the Scottish Labour Conference yesterday.
Denouncing the "madness" of breaking up a national rail network, he said: "Under the new fragmented, competing structure, it makes sense for InterCity CrossCountry to have a driver start work in the morning in Derby, clock on, go to the nearest taxi rank, get a cab 200 miles north to Newcastle, start a train and drive it all the way back to Derby."
Under the old arrangements, British Rail would have used the "nearest available driver", but InterCity CrossCountry does not want to pay a driver from a competitor company to do the job, he said.
He added: "InterCity CrossCountry claim it will save them pounds 60,000 a year, but somebody has to pay the taxi fare, and the bottom line is that it's the taxpayer and the passenger who are paying for this whole madness."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments