Climate Change Emergency - Implications for UK Transport Strategy

[whole diary]

[GBM]

In view of the considerable concerns WRT^▸ (with regard to ) carbon emissions from air travel, it has been suggested that taking holidays in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) should be encouraged as an alternative to flying overseas.

Perhaps a start could be made by offering a reliable service of full length trains to West country holiday destinations, EVEN DURING HOT WEATHER when trips to the seaside are particular popular.

Complete with a buffet. Oh sorry, no one wants that.  Complete with a trolley that sells water (or will they top up your own water bottle?)

[Bmblbzzz]

It's not inconceivable for a trolley (or buffet) to include a barrel of drinking water with a tap for refilling bottles or cups. Whether a small charge would be appropriate for this (because water is not free and the trolley or buffet is a commercial service) is probably a matter for the trolley/buffet operator (but doubtless we can air our opinions here too).

I find cold black tea refreshing on really hot days but I don't think that's a popular beverage so wouldn't expect it to be served on a train! 

[broadgage]

Drinking water from a water tap is so cheap as to be virtually free, and should not IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) be charged for.
Metered mains water prices vary a fair bit but are generally less than £5 a cubic meter including sewage disposal.
So a small fraction of a penny to fill a water bottle.

Water on trains is a lot more expensive due to the labour and other costs in handling it and therefore cant realistically be given away.

What could, and should IMO^▸ (in my opinion) be done is to provide free drinking water fountains and water taps at stations.

[Bmblbzzz]

Coincidentally,* I went to the tailor's today to pick up some garments that had been altered/mended. I didn't go by train(!), I went on my bike, but the hot weather encouraged me to ride a little bit too hard and I was coughing when I got there - frog in my throat (odd expression!). Having paid and collected, I asked if I could possibly get a glass of water - and I really only wanted a glass of water to clear my throat, but the tailor gave me a small bottle of water from his fridge. But hey, I'd already paid for his work, I guess that covered the cost of a small bottle of no-brand water!

*But perhaps not really that relevantly.

[grahame]

Coincidentally, I went to the tailor's today to pick up some garments that had been altered/mended. ... I asked if I could possibly get a glass of water - and I really only wanted a glass of water to clear my throat, but the tailor gave me a small bottle of water from his fridge. But hey, I'd already paid for his work, I guess that covered the cost of a small bottle of no-brand water!

For the Melksham Carnival - on a really hot Saturday 4 weeks ago - we took a very large plastic box filled with ice, several gallon bottles of Spar water from the Spar on Spa Road embedded in it, and paper cups.  Only sensible in this weather for managers / organisers / suppliers to think ahead for staff, customers, and especially volunteers.   Volunteers voted with their feet mouths - a very high proportion of the water drunk.

[Bmblbzzz]

More plastic bottle news: on closer inspection, the bottle the tailor gave me is from Costco. Comparing it with a bottle of Evian I had at home (empty, relic of an ill-prepared wander in Sea Mills), there is a curious legend on the Evian: "Package not designed for long distance transportation outside Europe." Why on earth not? I mean, it must get transported long distances from the French spring to its retail outlets. Presumably the "outside Europe" is some sort of legal distinction but what? why? Is it that legal advice or requirements inside Europe say it should be transportable or that outside Europe some other hazard has been identified (presumably but not necessarily in the USA)? Or... I don't know. Any ideas?

[martyjon]

Off topic really but please forgive me for this ;-

Tour de France halted today through SNOW and snowploughs and bulldozers were unable to clear the route in time.

[broadgage]

It's not inconceivable for a trolley (or buffet) to include a barrel of drinking water with a tap for refilling bottles or cups. Whether a small charge would be appropriate for this (because water is not free and the trolley or buffet is a commercial service) is probably a matter for the trolley/buffet operator (but doubtless we can air our opinions here too).

I find cold black tea refreshing on really hot days but I don't think that's a popular beverage so wouldn't expect it to be served on a train! 

I would favour cold black beer, and would expect to find it served on a train. Guinness is the brand leader, other dark beers are available, any reasonable quality brand would be fine.

[MVR S&T]

I am curently enjoying the very last 2 pints of Ringwood's Porter, (dark beer) it was transported from place of brewing to home by my own two legs, with the help of a biccycle over 8 miles.

[Red Squirrel]

BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION SPLITS COUNCIL LEADERS

A debate on climate change has exposed divisions between the leaders of three councils over Bristol Airport’s proposed expansion.

Both Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council support the plans to increase the number of passengers by a fifth to 12 million a year by 2025.

But Bath & North East Somerset Council has lodged a formal objection.

The difference in opinion reared its head at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) committee, which is made up of Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage and B&NES Council leader Dine Romero, along with metro mayor Tim Bowles.

Weca itself has also backed the expansion in its consultation response to the plans lodged with North Somerset Council, which is not part of the regional authority.

(continues...)

Source: Bristol 247

[TonyK]

In view of the considerable concerns WRT^▸ (with regard to ) carbon emissions from air travel, it has been suggested that taking holidays in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) should be encouraged as an alternative to flying overseas.

It would be improper for me to advertise my beautiful holiday cottage in Devon  here, even with a substantial discout for forum members. Besides, I'm thinking of putting the rents up to take advantage of the weak pound, and the affordability for your average European citizen. I doubt I will be alone.

Swings and roundabouts.

[Noggin]

BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION SPLITS COUNCIL LEADERS

A debate on climate change has exposed divisions between the leaders of three councils over Bristol Airport’s proposed expansion.

Both Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council support the plans to increase the number of passengers by a fifth to 12 million a year by 2025.

But Bath & North East Somerset Council has lodged a formal objection.

The difference in opinion reared its head at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) committee, which is made up of Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage and B&NES Council leader Dine Romero, along with metro mayor Tim Bowles.

Weca itself has also backed the expansion in its consultation response to the plans lodged with North Somerset Council, which is not part of the regional authority.

(continues...)

Source: Bristol 247

Well of course if Bristol City Council hadn't sold their stake in the airport, they'd now have a nice little earner to soften the blow (as Manchester, Birmingham and various other local authorities do). Perhaps one of our readers might be able to explain how that happened? Google isn't very informative.

The reality is that, for all the green rhetoric, Bristol is very unlikely to block expansion - there are too many jobs at stake, particularly in south Bristol, which is already fairly economically deprived, but also in tourism and the wider economy. The arena debacle hasn't done Marv many favours, add blocking an airport extension (which would probably be overruled by Westminster anyway), and that would be him properly done for.

[Bmblbzzz]

Far from Bristol blocking expansion, I thought Bristol, along with South Glos and WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) overall, was in favour of it. It's only North Somerset against it, and they're the ones who get to take the decision. I'm pretty sure they'll go along with their neighbours' wishes. We'll see.

[Bmblbzzz]

I've seen photos today (taken yesterday I think) of Extinction Rebellion protesters at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) with stickers saying "HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is our climate emergency". Which is rather ambiguous; does it mean building it contributes to the emergency, perhaps by the carbon emissions from construction work and high speed transport, or that not building it contributes to the emergency, presumably by not shifting transport from road to rail? It seems to be the former, but due to destruction of woodland rather than emissions per se, judging by this at least: http://stophs2.org/tag/extinction-rebellion

[TaplowGreen]

Having seen the (largely non biodegradable) mess they left behind in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere, they may care to look a little closer to home.