“This from Neill Mitchell in todays Western Morning in an article entitled "Rail upgrade is first-class ticket to region's economic prosperity"
http://tinyurl.com/7lcvrec”

“Is Kevin up for election? he normally hides.”

“Yet again no mention of air travel and the closure of the airport. A lot of business leaders see the need to retain an airfield for Plymouth. Any improvemrent to Plymouth's rail services will also benefit its competitors to the east. An airlink could compete timewise with other cities better train times. PCC through the forthcoming plannng review for the airport site should ensure that retention as an airport is one of the options.”

“This is not a public service but a private business and if market forces dictate (there is profit in it) I am sure that some sharp suit will soon be filling the media with some enticing deals to gain our custom, sure you can lobby but the market will decide.
Just as a side but transport related... there are many posts on air transport and I apologise if this has been suggested before but how about re-establishing a Seaplane service from Plymouth to City Airport London if the figures stack up!
Link attached if interested.
http://tinyurl.com/7nl4pln”

“Why the need for speed? Even Exeter suffers when the Culm valley is flooded and train services are cut until divers are able to inspect the bridges over culverts and everyone is shifted onto buses and this isn't likely to change without re-routing the line. At least Exeter has an airport and motorway.

Why the fixation with trains anyway? The method of transport commonly used by the masses is road and improvements should be made there before the minority (train travellers) have millions spent in vain.”

“Plymouth and its illustrious leaders have scored one hell of an own goal!!!! We have got more chance in stepping in rocking horse sh#t than getting 3 hour train services and why? simply because we are competing against too many other cities who are alot bigger and have far more clout than this city for example Reading, Bristol, Oxford, Cardiff, Swansea, Exeter, Penzance, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Newbury, Gloucester, and Hereford and Worcester. All of these cities will want priority for better rail services and Cardiff, Bristol, Portsmouth Reading have a far better chance than Plymouth because they have a bigger populous and their councillors may in deed care about their citizens unlike Plymouth City Council who will do anything for a quick buck and back hander (remember Citybus, Plymouth Airport, the incinerator!).
All Great Western services terminate at London Paddington and as such there is only limited capacity to expand services and this will invariably be taken up by commuter services to Reading, Bristol and Cardiff, Plymouth simply doesnt have a chance against these. Lets also not forget the chance of getting new rolling stock down here is non existent, we have all of the Capitals cast off trains so dont hold your breath. Lets face it Plymouth City Council has done little to intice commuters onto trains, the Bere Alston line hasn't been extended to Tavistock and why has a train station not been built at Plympton to give an alternative option of getting into the city and a rail freight terminal at Marsh Mills, it really isnt rocket science but it is for Plymouth City Council and the blithering idiots in charge of it.
Plymouth City airport should not have been shut by the councillors and Viv, the modes of transport offered to Plymouth citizens relies on slow train services (which will remain slow with the new franchise), or road transport. What happens if the A38 is closed or the line is closed at Dawlish??? Thats right we are all stuck in Plymouth as there is no alternative mode ie the plane to London because Plymouth put all its eggs in one basket and I do believe they are going to end up scrambled!!!!!”

“What is needed is an MP that will speak for the people of Plymouth and not some Muppet like what we have at present with Oliver Colvil, as far as this Government and past Government that have represented the South West at Westminster, Plymouth along with other Parts of the South West region is only good enough to be Used as a Toxic and Nuclear waste dumping ground for Decommissioned Sub Hulks soon they will be taking in other country's Nuclear hulks to cut up and store in Plymouth and what will the MP for Plymouth say Welcome, the people of the South west Region means Very Little to ******s like Cameron and Colvil”

“And anothet thing isn't Wiggins one of the Tories that helped to shut the airport so Viv's mates could build some houses on it? Nice track record on helping Plymothians travel!”

“Rail travel from Plymouth to London is a joke. I use the train quite regularly since the airport shut. The trains are dirty, the srevices provide for the cost are rubbish, the buffet usually has no hot drinks/sandwiches/anything. And from Paddington leaving for Plymouth of an afternoon are always dangerously over crowded and with all gangways blocked with luggage as the operator has removed luggage space to squeeze in more seats.

So don't hold your breathes waiting for improvements.”

“First Great Western still flogging those old Intercity 125s built over 30 years ago. Awful trains, awful route, awful service. I'm sure they will win the new contract though. Who on earth would want to invest in it?”