Communication Problems

Robbie has learned to his cost that one of the things that really makes me cross is being lied to. He still tries it from time to time but he has worked out that it is easier and safer to tell the truth instead of being found out in a stupid lie. Unfortunately Network Rail still insult our intelligence with their stupid statements, don't they understand that each time they deviate from the truth they lose public trust and they are less likely to be believed in future.

Two news stories involving Network Rail made me really irritated over the weekend. The first story was about Stamford Station the station is listed but Network Rail want to reduce the size of the platforms to enable wider freight trains to use the line. They may be able to put forward a very good case for doing that, and they certainly think it is necessary because they have submitted a planning application. In fact their submission to the council talks about the need to get more freight back on the railway and to ease freight congestion on other lines. So why on earth did Rachel Blackman, the spokesperson for Network Rail say “there are no immediate plans to increase the number of freight trains”. It may be strictly true because the work hasn't been done yet so they couldn't increase freight traffic in the immediate future, but do they seriously expect us to believe that they would do all that work if they didn't intend to increase freight traffic. Why can't they just be straight about it?

The other news story was very sad, and Arriva Wales train killed 27 cows after a gate had been left open and they had wandered on to the line in Powys. The Network Rail spokesman made the woefully inadequate comment that “We are not sure how it happened”. I would have thought it was all too obvious how it happened, more to the point would be preventing anything like it from happening again, especially since a large number of cows have been killed previously in a very similar accident. It was a horrible thing to happen, what about expressing concern for the driver, or for the passengers who must have been terribly upset by the carnage and it would have been appropriate to make some comment regretting the loss of the cattle. I know they think if they say nothing they can somehow avoid responsibility, but making ridiculously non committal comments they prove that the public contempt for Network Rail is well deserved.