Surely this is a result of fixed costs, for example wages, rolling stock costs. A carriage carrying its full completement of seated passengers is going to earn more per passenger mile than a carriage with 10 passengers. If you pack them in standing then you will earn even more per passenger mile because a rammed full train doesn't really cost much more to operate than an almost empty one.
I specifically mentioned, and only mentioned passenger km. I have not said anything about revenue per vehicle km operated.
It seems that you still don't get it. The Network railcard is a promotional offer to help match usage of actual infrastructure and rolling stock capacity that peak demand obliges the railway to provide. Without such a promotion, there would be less leisure travel off-peak, meaning that:
It isn't ancient history, as statistics published yesterday demonstrate.
And that's with the NSE railcard encouraging off peak travel. Without the NSE railcard boosting off peak travel, the difference between the London peak and elsewhere would be even more marked.
Indeed, - when motorways that penetrated the centres of the major northern cities were being built in the '60s, London had relatively little road development. It wasn't until the '80s that the M25 became a viable link for tangential and through traffic, and by its very nature, had little benefits for those travelling into the inner boroughs. Under these conditions, rail routes provided the viable mode for commuters so they were developed to their current capacity.
Use your imagination.
London has many flats that have gone unsold. Leasehold, ground rent, management companies and ever increasing service charges aren't desirable. Not to say you can't do apartments well, but English law doesn't provide for that (Scotland have something better in this regard, I think).
I could see Broomfleet getting some development.
The M25 was originally supposed to be one of four ring roads at various radial distances from the city, but only one was built. It is why the M23 terminates at junction 7 at Hooley, it was meant to go much further into London but without Ringway 1, there was nowhere for it to terminate that would be suitable to distribute its traffic. South London lacks a high capacity inner ring road whereas North London has the north circular where the M1 conveniently starts/ends.
Five ring roads, A-E (Abercrombie’s plan of 1943). The M25 is part D and part E. Parts of A, B and C were also built, but not in full (obviously)
Any suggestions as to how your changes would be funded?
There has been some chat in the press about the prime minister expressing interest in the idea of a National Railcard for all, but I don't think the railway would implement one available at peak times, as the revenue loss and potentially induced crowding would be too much.
I'm no chancellor, however , close the loopholes for the wealthy and corporates to enable them to get away with tax reduction.
Are you genuinely suggesting people have kids for child benefit? That £27.05 a week is going so far.
