Location Transport

Why does the government make public transport cost so much?

Surely if the government would rather us use public transport than buy cars then they should make it free. Why pay for transportation that is poor quality, unreliable, dangerous and doesnt actually take you to where you have to go. The government is trying to encourage people to use public transport to 'save the planet' but they charge insane prices for it, surely if they want to make more people use it they should just make it more appealing by making it free, insted of upping the tax on absolutly everything they can possibly think of.

Public Comments

1. to raise taxes ahhhhh now we see young grass hopper
2. A lot of it is because of UNION wages and packages for the UNIONS part is in cost of fuel . also must add in maintenance of the vehicles. The UNIONS keep demanding more then they get what they want it gets passed onto the users of public transit. Everyone from janitors to the maintenance guys are UNION. UNIONS are good but to much UNION kills businesses and jobs.
3. Here in UK Public Transport is owned by private companies who's shareholders want big dividends each year. During the 1980s the then Tory Government (UK) lead by Margaret Thatcher, took the decision to privatise the public transport system including the railways and the buses etc. Every year there is a fare increase and there's nothing the UK.gov can do about it. We now have the most expensive public transport in all of the EU here in UK. Why? Because most of the railway companies on Continental Europe are state owned. Take the case of France as an example. France has never had privately owned railways, they have always been in the public sector. Result, high speed trains, modern and efficient and fares that the common people of France can actually afford. Welcome to France where they take rail travel very seriously indeed. See this highspeed TGV at over 350-mph. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8skXT5NQzCg I must tell you that the Paris Metro is a wonder to behold, fast and efficient and clean. Unlike the Tube here in London which is falling apart for want of proper investment. The Paris Metro - fast, efficient and clean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAxJTagb9G0 What you've seen so far of the French railways in the above video clips is all 'State Owned' belonging to the people and government of France. What UK needs is a big injection of socialism, which it does not get from Labour which is the new Tory party of UK - certainly since Blair was it's boss. Unlike fuddy duddy old Englandshire - the French still have an ongoing Revolution in which the people have complete control of how their contry is managed and run. La Marseillaise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g vive la France You know the moment you step from your Eurostar (All French Train) at the Gare du Nord Paris, that you have arrived. Behind you is damp, cold air and trains which make squeeling noises. Welcome to the City of Lights - Paris - Montmartre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqiPWt__iL0 My partner and me have a city break in Paris every year - never fails, just a wonderful city and a country so far ahead you would not believe how out of touch UK is, especially when it comes to trains. Rail travel in France is part of the social scene and not there to make a profit. Look at it like this. Until recently we UK taxpayers were subsidising the privately owned railways here in UK. The UK.gov have stopped the subsidy, thus rail fares have gone up. I'm now 68 years old and have to tell you that year on year since privatisation of the railways here in UK fares have gone up. Thankfully I now have a FREEDOM PASS for London - which means I travel around London on public transport 24/7 for nothing. The highspeed French Eurostar racing through Kent at 185mph - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCvtXdeAzAI