Posted on 11/14/2012 2:55:38 AM PST by Cronos
Rail companies are drawing up controversial plans for officially sanctioned 'third class' travel, a senior Government figure has admitted.
Earl Attlee admitted the Department of Transport was considering the proposal, which was ditched in Britain by the former nationalised British Rail in June 1956.
..A Tory peer, the Earl is the grandson of Labour post-war Prime Minister Clement Attlee, elected in 1945, whose government nationalised the railways.
The question and answer are recorded in Hansard, the official record of the Houses of Parliament under the heading: 'Railways: Third Class Travel'.
Former Labour Minister Lord Myners asked the Government 'whether invitations to bid for new rail franchises permit the introduction of a third passenger class.' Earl Attlee replied that it did, noting: 'The current franchising system allows bidders to propose the introduction of a third passenger class as long as these proposals comply with the ticketing and settlement agreement and franchise agreement.'
..But a Department for Transport spokesman said: 'It is completely untrue and deliberately misleading to claim that this Government wants to introduce 'third class' fares.
'It absolutely does not. The minimum level of service is standard class and the Government is only interested in proposals from train operators that would improve, at the very least maintain, existing standards.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
‘40 & 8’s
I look forward to traveling in steerage.
Ha ha!
That was my first thought, too!
I wonder what is going to make this new class of service “third class,” other than something like standing all the way to your destination (or riding on the roof).
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