Am on a train heading to Limburg. A friend called asking if I could come help them with some urgency. So I threw some clothes on, tools metro to a station and got on the first train heading where I need to go. Fortunately they run every 30 mins on this route (I'd prefer every 15). There was no planning to this trip. It is totally spontaneous cos of need. Fortunately cos this is the Netherlands I could just turn up and get on the train. I didn't need to book. I could just swipe a card, & go

1/n

And I think this is something that is fundamentally part of how a public transport system should work. It's something I've had disagreement with prominent public try campaigners in here about. I don't think you should ever have to book a train ticket. Price should never vary based on proximity of purchase to time of travel. This to many sounds like absolute heresy. But it's crucial to a functional public transport system. One who's goal is to transport the public.

2/n

A year or so ago, a friend who was in France at the time got a call to say a parent had been taken into a Dutch hospital. They didn't know how long they would live. Because the primary means of getting from Paris to the Netherlands by train is a Thalys, they tried to book a ticket. They could simply turn up and travel. Alas cos Thalys seem to think they are an airline in rails that must operate with every seat full, my friend was unable to get a seat on the train until 6am the following day

3/n

They were robbed of precious hours with a dying relative because of a fucked up public transport system.

If we required car drivers to plan their journeys ahead of time, to book slots on motorways, and charge more the sooner their journey is. There would be riots. But it's considered ok with trains?

The purpose of public transport is to transport the public, and for so many of us its failing go do so. Not by chance. But by conscience choice of those in charge.

4/n

I'm vehemently of the belief that you should never have to book a train ticket to be able to travel affordably. Buy a ticket, sure. But book? No. Book implies planning, implies non immediate future. And quite simply to have the ability to do that is a massive luxury that many people do not have. And by requiring people to do so we fail large sections of society, often in their time of greatest need.

5/n

"but if we don't have the capacity to allow passengers to just turn up without booking"
Then increase capacity. Build more train lines. Buy more rolling stock. Recruit more staff.

"But we can't afford that"

Society can't afford you not to. If you ask a business are unwilling to put in the investment, then governments should be operating it.

"Governments don't have the money either"

Sure they do. Tax the fucking rich.

"But they can't"

They can, they choose not to.

6/n

There is no fundamental reason we can't have a better public transport system. A public transport system that society needs if it is to have a sustainable future. One predicated on transporting the public.

The only thing in the way is political ideology. Nothing more.

End rant.
7/7

@quixoticgeek
I'm with you 95% of the way.

I'm a little concerned about the climate impact of mostly empty trains running every 15 minutes along every corridor in every city.

They're way WAY more efficient in TonsCO2/passenger when they're full. But with fewer and fewer passengers (as will sometimes happen), they're way LESS efficient. Same for busses.

We need a drastic reduction of single occupant cars, yes. But single rider busses & trains are worse. It needs balance.

@kelvin0mql if they are all running off green wind and solar. Who cares. It's still more efficient than anyone using a private car.

@quixoticgeek
Now THAT is an excellent point.

Someday, when Public Transit trains can be mostly renewables-powered, the efficiency concerns mostly melt away.

That day is not today. But it’s a GREAT goal!