Train v plane: who will win your business

[igenther99]

In America

Plane: Hehehehehe I am so fast

Train: You cannot win!

Plane: OH SH*T

Train: HAHAHAH

Plane: -_- *Is slammed into and patted down by TSA*

[operazanotaijin]

Henceforth, any travel I do in the lower 48 states, and Canada, will all be by train. Only overseas will be by plane. With that being said, my money will be going to train travel.

[geeps08]

I agree trains are way better, in the U.S. Amtrak must travel over freight railroads tracks. It causes heavey delays and its a lot slower than airplanes. But the dignity of traveling by train is still better than being pact into a small plane like sardines. Where rail-passenger service beats airlines is intercity commuting, and urban corridors, such as Richmond. to Boston, Ann Arbor-Chicago or San Diego-L.A.

[chris40539]

trains rock planes are a mock

[publictransport4us]

Thanks for the uplifting video during such grim times

[BetterTransport]

You're welcome. With your help, we can send the Government a strong message that we want lower train fares.

[XPLAlN]

No mention of Air Passenger Duty.

No mention of public rail subsidy.

No mention of UK tax payer underwriting operating losses of the private train operating companies.

[BetterTransport]

Even with air passenger duty and the public investment in rail, the airlines are heavily favoured. The Treasury has said that airlines benefit to the tune of £10 billion a year by not having to pay fuel tax and vat. The Treasury expects air passenger duty in 2009/10 to reach just £1.8 billion.

[byrongsmith]

Great video - and nice that you got link love from The Guardian.

[BetterTransport]

Glad you liked it, Byron! Do spread the word.

[Tusker1970]

This film seems to suggest that the rail industry enjoys no government subsidy - my understanding is that it receives about £5bn a year.

[BetterTransport]

Sorry it's taken me a while to respond - I've been on holiday. I think Government investment/subsidy in the railways is about £3.2 billion (having fallen from the recent level of about £5bn). We're not saying there's no Government investment but that the Government is regulating fares such that they increase above inflation year after year -- and it's making passengers shoulder more of the cost of the railway.

More campaign info is on our website.

[campaigncc]

Great video! Planes are obviously a rapidly growing source of CO2 emissions, and despite greenwash from the likes of Easy Jet they can't hide from the fact that planes are inefficient means of transport in terms of energy per passenger kilometers. Bring on more trains, and better forms of public transport!

[BetterTransport]

Thanks for your support!

[Hazzoufc]

Very good video and message, thanks. I am always put off going by train to London from Oxford as it's far too expensive. With First Great Western, an "Off-peak Day Single" is £22.90. So that is £45 for an off-peak return. To me that seems very expensive just to go about 60 miles. If you go by coach that is £16 for a return... Why do trains need to be so expensive? Don't they want business?

[BetterTransport]

Well, we don't think they DO need to be so expensive. With your help we'll convince the Government! You bring up a good point that often the 'fight' is train v car, not train v plane. Our wider campaigning is focusing on both fights.

[greenpartyew]

I've watched this film about 5 times, and I'm still laughing until my belly aches. Great!

[BetterTransport]

Do share the laugh with your friends! The more people who take action on this, this better our chances of convincing the Goverment to bring down train fares.

[greenpartyew]

Yes, we've sent it around on our Facebook page (2600 people signed up to that).

[seakification]

What a great video. Train fares are WAY too expensive.

[calvinjones]

Very nice video and clear message.

[BetterTransport]

Kind of you to say so!

[Mojo29]

Excellent!

[BetterTransport]

Thanks! With your help, maybe train will get a fighting chance

[Greenshootsful]

Brilliant! and spot on

[BetterTransport]

Glad you liked it! Do tell your friends and encourage them to sign up to our email action list