1 February 2011
Demand management on different transport modes
As submitted:
Dear Sir,
There is a great danger that the railway industry slips into a further round of naval gazing when looking at future demand and how it is best managed. Let's not forget that we already have demand management by price on the railways - those travelling at peak times pay premium fares and yet there is talk of yet further price hikes to stifle demand. This is in stark contrast to rail's main competitor the car - here the vast majority carry just one occupant at peak times.
So we have a publicly funded road network running at only 25% efficiency as most vehicles carry at least 3 empty seats. Contrast this again with the railway where not only are passengers paying peak fares but many are standing. Any future transport policy decision should be based on treating all modes in the same manner and it is high time that those analysing the rail industry and politicians at large started looking at this bigger picture.
And before any of your motoring readers start bleating let me remind them that car travel is heavily subsidised by the rest of society - the most recent study by Leeds University showed that drivers only meet between a third and a half of their total cost to society. Not at all what the roads lobby would have us believe!
Regards
Paul Tetlaw
Board Member
Transform Scotland