Inside U.K. Derailed in the U.K. By Richard Payne	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
イギリスの困った鉄道事情 不便極まるイギリスの鉄道 19世紀の開業当時は世界の羨望の的だったイギリスの鉄道も、民営化が進んでからは、遅れやすい、混んでいる、汚いと住民の不評を買っています。電車の代わりに車や飛行機を利用する人が増えているため、鉄道会社は運賃を値下げするなどして乗客を呼び戻そうとしていますが…。

Britain's railway network is in a total mess. There's no one in this country who would disagree with that statement, not even the tired managers who are trying to keep some sort of service on the tracks. Once, a very long time ago, U.K. trains were the envy of the world. Today, we must be the laughing stock.

Now passengers can consider themselves lucky if their train is running in the first place. If it is, it's usually late, overcrowded and dirty. Worst of all, however, is the cost. It's why I gave up traveling by train a long time ago. In fact, I struggle to recall of any of my family and friends who regularly catch the train. Most would do anything to avoid trains. Even though our roads are becoming busier and busier, with delays and accidents common, I'd much rather jump in my car to drive, say, 720 km. It's simply cheaper and, more often than not, quicker.

The government used to own the entire rail industry, operating under the name British Rail. Then, about 10 years ago, it was broken up, and now many companies run services in different parts of the country and that's what many critics believe is where the problems started.

This winter has been particularly bad, following a serious crash in Hatfield, not far from London, in mid-October, when four people were killed and many more injured when a train derailed. This started a major investigation into the condition of the tracks throughout Britain. Trains can travel as fast as 200 kph, but after the accident, speed reductions were immediately ordered and journeys take a lot longer to complete. The financial cost and delays have been enormous, and many experts say it will be the summer before the network is fully back to normal.

But that will come too late for people who have promised never to return to the trains. The use of cars to go to and from work has increased significantly, while others are even using planes to make trips to the opposite ends of the country for business and pleasure. It is more expensive, but they say it's worth it because planes offer a better chance than trains of getting to important meetings on time. One train operator, Virgin, owned by the entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, say they alone have lost 400,000 customers since the Hatfield crash. There are 28 different companies running our railways in all, so the total number of no-show passengers runs over a million.

If there's one thing private business dislikes more than anything else it's losing money, and some operators are prepared to go to great lengths to attempt to persuade people back. This month, for example, Virgin has temporarily cut their ticket prices in half. The cheapest return fares for a journey between London and Manchester, in the north of the country, covering some 640 km, is as little as £10 (¥1,710). First-class fares are falling from £215 (¥36,700) to £115 (¥19,600). Compensation pay ments to unhappy passengers are going to run into the millions of pounds and increase the amount of money needed to bring the system somewhere near the standards people expect.

One group of passengers happy to be given some money for their hardship are those who have been left stranded on their train for hours because drivers couldn't be found to continue the journey. A story that made national headlines was of one trip that started one day and didn't finish until the next and only when a bus got passengers to their destination.

Britons love to moan about public transport and never more so, it seems, than now. It's not unusual to have to wait for delayed trains and then to have to stand when they do arrive because too many people are being squeezed on board. That anger only grows when the rail companies report growing profits and big pay rises and bonuses for their directors.

For now, though, those without any choice will have to make do with what they are offered. At least some do get a chance to make their point to the people in charge. The other day, my local TV station challenged the head of the regional train operator to travel to London and see firsthand what the passengers have to put up with. He accepted, and it was no surprise to see that he suffered some tough questions from those he met early in the morning. And even he didn't escape the problems * his train was late, too.

There has even been a national day of prayer to appeal for a better railway. Hundreds of religious leaders and supporters held prayer meetings on stations, calling on passengers to be "calmer and patient throughout this time of disruption."

Me? I've got to go now. I'm late for a meeting. I think I'll go by car!

Shukan ST: Feb. 16, 2001

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