to Labour cllrs, so far re the embankment

After forty years, it is still not too late to ask for the responsible, very much cheaper and sensible plan to send the Dudley trams down the railway line to Stourbridge Jct, with a tram stop at Brierley Hill.  Please explain this to Qadar and your colleagues.  And, you are the official Opposition, too!  My council tax includes your expenses to oppose this very foolish and immoral and scandalous plan to destroy your premier Dudley No 1 Canal embankment, the only public open space and, by the rusty iron wall, the nature site at Merry Hill.

Like me, please insist that the Dudley tram must use the principal, mainline railway "of national strategic significance".

"Unconditional surrender from Russia and, it must return Crimea", says Liz Truss

Hi Mike - our expert on foreign affairs.

Did our side overthrow the pro-Russian Ukrainian government in Feb 2014 and that led Russia to take back Crimea and start the separatists' war in Donbas that led to 14,000 killings in Ukraine up to Feb 2022?

MIKE'S REPLY:

For a short answer within my understanding, which is limited because I am not an expert on Ukrainian political and social movements, although I have a degree of knowledge of Russian and Soviet history, I can say the following.

1). Putin has his own motives for his actions in 2014 so to imply that his actions were a reaction to others only is not to attempt an understanding of the emergence of Putin as the dominant political leader in Russia after Yeltsin and the international strategies and policies that he has developed since then. Any actions he took in 2014 needs to be understood within that context. Taking that as read, his actions in 2014 were in response to the political events within the Ukraine which moved in a direction that rejected the leadership of Yanukovich and the pro-Russian policies he wanted to pursue and those within the Ukraine who favoured a pro-Russian policy. The context within Ukraine is that after the decisive vote in the independence referendum of 1991, Ukrainian political movements switched between western and Russian oriented political tendencies with external support from western states and from Russia. Both tendencies were heavily dominated by oligarchic capitalist groups dominating the economy, media and politics. 

2). The USA and the intelligence services allied to them like ours have a long reach and western states have a far greater economic power than Russia and the ability to offer incentives that Russia cannot match and although the overthrow of Yanukovich in 2014 was an internally driven political process within the Ukraine I suspect it was supported covertly by western intelligence and its agencies like the National Endowment for Democracy and overtly because of the offers from the EU states of a partnership agreement with the west. Internally Ukrainian political movements were torn after 1991 into either a western or Russian international orientation which shifted in each of the elections after 1991. I do not accept the 2014 overthrow of Yanukovich as coup directed by the western powers.

3). Political movements in the Donbas were more allied to a pro-Russian orientation and as a major industrial zone since the 19^th century it had strong ties to Russia economically which made it more understandable they were more sympathetic to Russia. Russia intervened with covert military support to political movements that wanted more autonomy for the regions and the attempt to set up separatist movements after 2014. I have read conflicting reports as to how genuine the separatist sentiment amongst the wider Donbas population was.

So in summary what I am saying is that what has happened is down to internal political and social movements within the Ukraine, these movements are not proxies for external states. External states have tried to influence these Ukrainian political movements. In my view Russia took the more aggressive response to what was happening in the Ukraine than that of western states. 

Mike

MINE:

Very many thanks for this, Mike.

I am very concerned that our side felt unable to wait for a chance to overthrow Yanukovich in a competently and fairly run election.  This was an own goal by liberal democratic forces within Ukraine.  An utter tragedy that was, possibly, not condemned by the American/UK-led West at the time.  Putrid Putin must have been absolutely furious!  Hence, the 2021 re-assurances or demands that were never forthcoming from NATO before the war's escalation in Feb 22. Our side called it appeasement if we did what Putrid wanted.  Liz Truss is demanding unconditional surrender and the return of Crimea, instead.

Is this a fair summary, Mike?

16 June 2022:

I do fear that the UK's open-arms approach to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war and our firmly closed arms to refugees from every other war-torn country, does give the game away.  It shows how we will welcome those suffering at the hands of our No 1 sworn enemy, Russia and her war (fueled by our gifts of "only 'defensive' weapons" to make it our war, too).  No way do they have to risk drowning in the Channel, only to be jetted off to Rwanda.  We are not so welcoming to those from our own initiated wars in past years, like Afghanistan and Iraq or from our present war on Yemen!

Do remember that the West's wars and Russia's wars are all good for the capitalist armament factories in America and Europe and in Russia.  All helpful for economic growth and the fat profits for the armament kings and queens.  Never unemployment or low wages for those workers.  No industrial action, ever from trade unions in the factories churning out the weapons to kill and maim.  Only strikes from the railway workers next week when one of their leaders, last decade, publicly said that they would use their muscle to get more wages for nurses!

Only one railway worker, the brave and campaigning train driver Dave Parsons, has helped and supported me in my efforts to highlight, and our attempt to stop, the sheer scale and the long decades of our self-inflicted and ongoing destruction of about one-third of our railway network for roads and buildings and private gardens.  Dave resigned from ASLEF a couple of years ago in disgust at his union.

Tim

email to Ian Ward re June WMCA press release

11 Jun 2022, 13:17 (5 days ago)

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, added: “Government Covid support for bus operators is due to end this year – meaning this investment to reduce fares and improve services is even more vital to not only get those customers lost during the pandemic back on board but attract new customers.

“And it will of course be accompanied by further investment in bus lanes and bus priority measures which will allow buses to bypass traffic jams while offering more reliable journey times.  (my emphasis)

SELF: Please, stricter CAZ and charging for those motorists who have not registered as being essential vehicle users  - for only them to be inside the Outer Ring Road on the main radial roads without paying.

“Bus is the most used form of public transport and quality services are essential if we are to reduce car use, ease congestion, cut pollution and help tackle the climate emergency.”

Tim

Future options for Stourbridge to Brierley Hill (8 June 2020)

In relation to the future options being considered for Stourbridge to Brierley Hill following the draft study received from consultants and a request for a briefing note on the subject, the Head of Rail Franchising and Partnerships undertook to refer the matter to TfWM Transport Planning colleagues to take forward.

It takes two to tango

It takes two to have a war.  You get attacked.  If you hit back it is war.  If you shower the invader with flowers, clowns and other gifts you may not get your every building flattened and every occupant slaughtered!

We chose to overlook Russian forces invading Georgia, Chechnya and Crimea.  Quite apart from Afghanistan.  In fact, we invaded that last country ourselves and then, after exactly 20 years left it in disarray, ruination and, famine a coming inevitability - in August 2021! 

Therefore, upgrade/finish the UK's major 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway!

 The committee considered a motion submitted the Vice-Chair, Councillor Worrall on 27 May 2020.

 

“West Midlands Transport Delivery Committee welcomes the Government’s announcement of £2 billion national funding for the urgent provision of cycle and walking routes (of which £250m in the current financial year), which is to be spent on main corridors for work journeys to and from major centres of employment. 

 

The TDC expresses its full support and encouragement to TfWM officers working to achieve this in partnership with District Council colleagues, and others, such as the Canals and Rivers Trust, Network Rail, Sustrans, Cycling UK, and other cycling, disability and community organisations.

 

The TDC further notes Cllr. Worrall’s report, appended to this Notice of Motion, and asks all concerned to do whatever they can to achieve an early, fit-for-purpose, well used, permanent, strategic network of cycling and walking routes to serve the whole of the West Midlands, both for work and recreational purposes.” 

 

Resolved : That the motion be supported.

Point of clarification

Dear Bob

You stopped me when you thought that I was talking about transport on a retrofit Zoom.  Fair enough but this was what I wanted to say and I think it needs to be said as clarification and correction.  There was a discussion about the WMCC and the WMCA that I was responding to.

As you know, the WMCC councillors were elected and it was they who approved the Metro project in 1981.  At one time, if I remember correctly, it was for 200 Kms by the year 2000.  Not the WMCA but Andy Street is elected and it was he who published in Jan 2020 his £15 billion tram scheme of 8 lines and 150 miles.  He was re-elected with that intention in his manifesto.  With both the CC and the CA there has never been a single debate in any council chamber, although I cannot be 100% sure about that in the 1980s but, I very much doubt if there was any vote in the 80s.

Andy's powers, from what I have read, do not include lording it over the seven district council leaders but to be their mouthpiece and representative and public relations man.  Hence, there needs to be a fair process of discussion, then debate, followed by a vote to determine councillors' wishes. 

Tens of millions are now being spent on trams when that money could be used for retrofitting - urgently. Or, to help with fuel/food bills when many are suffering from inflation and the fuel and cost of living crises, especially those on UC.  Therefore, Metro is immoral, socially unjust and is the exact wrong thing to do to build an eco-socialist society!

Transport money is the key to accelerating retrofitting.  And free solar electricity from your roof, not solar farms, must be emphasised because it is so urgent to get electricity without using oil and gas from Russia that is our main weapon to punish them and, to try and reign them in.  Rather than using violence and certainly not to widen this disgraceful war.

One thing leads to another!

Best wishes

Tim

To Suzanne Jeffery

Dear Suzanne

I hope to attend the Zoom meeting on Sunday and thanks so much for your work on our behalf.

Since the 1990s, I've been highlighting the folly and the sheer scale of the destruction wreaked on our railways by, not Beeching who always gets the blame, poor man but, by transport experts and every politician (and every trade union leader, by the way!) who all thought that the closed railways over the last seventy years meant that they must now be buried under concrete, brick and tarmac (or used as tramlines in Manchester and Brum) because they would never be needed again.  Not even as cycle-walkways that I am also asking should be made fit for purpose, in the case of the UK's major commuter, business and leisure route, the 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway.

Will you let me raise my concern over how the expansion of the tram networks in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands has coincided with the destruction of about 100 Kms of urban railway lines, both by the trams and with the construction of roads and buildings?  As a result, we now have even worse road and, before Covid, railway congestion in the W Mids.  Hence, many billions of pounds of greenhouse gases in the UK has been spent and emitted, unnecessarily on replacing buses and trains with trams to make public transport worse with yet more changes and delays between the different modes.  This is not very green!

Best wishes

Tim

WMCA press release on 10 June - extract

Key features for the £88 million transformation plan include:

• Lower and streamlined fares – with prices frozen to 2018 level until 2025
• Enhanced bus network with greater operating hours, increased frequency and greater integration with other transport services
• Boost the Safer Travel team with nine extra uniformed transport safety officers to offer greater protection and reassurance to passengers
• Create a Bus Passenger Charter to set out clear pledges for customer satisfaction and retention

TfWM, councils and operators already work closely through the West Midlands Bus Alliance and our existing Enhanced Partnership will be extended to support the BSIP delivery.

https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/lower-fares-and-more-uniformed-safety-officers-part-of-88m-plan-for-bus-services-across-west-midlands

from Lindsey German on BRUCE KENT

I was saddened to hear of the death of Bruce Kent, in London just before his 93rd birthday. Bruce was a giant of the peace movement. He was a tireless campaigner against war and nuclear weapons, was known internationally for his work, and did a great deal to ensure that popular arguments on the need for peace and disarmament reached a wider audience.

He first came to national prominence as a leader of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in the early 1980s. The organisation had been in decline from its heyday in the late 1950s and early 1960s but was galvanised by the Thatcher government’s decisions to replace Polaris with Trident and to have Cruise missiles at the Greenham Common airbase in Berkshire. A great wave of opposition particularly to the siting of Cruise missiles in Europe led to mass protests. CND organised huge demonstrations nationally and many local activities, and Bruce Kent was one of the central figures in the movement. He was a very powerful and inspiring speaker, who always had a good rapport and empathy with the crowds.

Bruce was ordained as a Catholic priest but eventually gave this up as his campaigning work caused tensions with the church and he became the target of attack from Tory MPs and media. This must have been a very difficult decision. His faith and his ideals of pacifism were very important to him.

There are many people who have cause to be grateful to Bruce for his campaigning: for leading a movement against nuclear weapons over decades, but also for challenging government policies over militarism and war, supporting the cause of justice for Palestinians, in solidarity with the Muslim community against racism.

I spoke on many demonstrations alongside him. The last one was in March this year when Stop the War and CND organised a protest against the war in Ukraine. His speech was very direct, using the example of Stanislav Petrov, the Russian military officer who helped to avert nuclear war in the 1980s when a malfunctioning early warning system suggested that missiles had been launched by the US against Russia. Petrov refused to retaliate thus preventing possible major escalation to full nuclear war. He regarded Petrov as a hero, and I thought particularly wanted to make this point both about the dangers of accidental triggering of nuclear war, but also to help counter the Russophobia growing as a result of Putin’s invasion.

His speeches were always informative and to the point. He was also direct and straight talking in individual conversation. He will be remembered for the incredible work he did across the decades, for his principles and standing up for what he believed in, and for his encouragement to a whole movement, both on the mass stage but also to countless individuals to whom he was an inspiration.

On behalf of Stop the War Coalition, I would like to send condolences to his wife, Valerie, to his family and close friends, to his comrades and colleagues in CND and Pax Christi, and to the many people who will be saddened by news of his death. We take inspiration from a life well lived and which helped to shape the movement for peace in Britain.

10 Jun 2022 • by Lindsey German

This is grossly immoral and shocking but everyone is in denial!

Dear friends - will even one of you ever reply?  I doubt it.  Prove me wrong.  I do expect, at the very least, for the three bishops to act decisively, unitedly and bravely, please.  SPEAK OUT!  And it would be nice if Bishop David in Manchester could also respond, since he was also present in Dudley when the immorality and folly of Metro was being rolled out onto railway lines - from as long ago as 1981.

This is grossly immoral and shocking but everyone is in denial!

We have 10% inflation and a cost of living crisis from shortages and our war with Russia.  We are fueling and, some say, we started the Ukraine War in February 2014 with the violent overthrow of the properly and fairly 2010 elected, pro-Russian Ukraine President.

Yet, every West Midlands councillor and all Dudley and all W Mids MPs fully support and agree with the January 2020 press release from Andy Street that, on his re-election, £15 BILLION to 2040 would be spent on eight Metro lines over 150 miles with 380 tram stops.  This is the wondrous West Midlands Metro to replace some bus routes and train services with a "bus on rails" tram.

Therefore, right now, this means Metro's hundreds of millions of pounds are being wasted and immorally spent.  Like their intention to destroy the only public open space at Merry Hill Shopping Centre and, the nearest thing it has to a nature conservation site, partly due to my organic guerrilla gardening, with the knowledge of the owners, over the decades.  The official plan is at the foot of this email.

At Merry Hill, the 400 metres of Dudley's premier No 1 Canal embankment is due to be ruined by the Metro tram needing a massive, double-track, concrete and steel railway/tram viaduct for the trams, across the high grass and tree/shrub-covered embankment.  For over £50 million, I would guess.  Certainly, it should be going to those on state benefits as should the well over £500 million, for the Dudley Tram.

What is even more shocking is that every West Midlands transport expert and every regional politician, sincerely believe that all this is necessary to get the UK's only mothballed mainline railway completed in the middle section (56 Kms between Stourbridge to Burton on Trent) on the 120 Kms, half used, Worcester to Derby railway.  They say the tram on a total of 6.7 Kms is the catalyst to finish the full 120 Kms with freight, commuter and regional trains.  How absurd!

What is even worse, is that only one train driver and one member of Railfuture, believe that what I have written here is correct.  Everyone else believes that Metro is the best thing since sliced bread, is the silver bullet to solve all our road traffic congestion and air pollution problems and, I am lying!

It is like what Jonathan Freedland has written, in his new book, about the man who broke out of Auschwitz, so knew exactly what was going on with the Nazi's attempt to wipe out the Jews. He told the authorities but, nothing was ever done.  Not even the bombing of the railway lines to the concentration camps.  So we had six million Jews killed.  Only this one man was at all bothered!

Very many people are finding it increasingly hard to heat their homes and even to eat healthily.  Yet, the uncaring, immoral authorities want the money, NOT to go to these people but, on replacing buses and trains with a grandiose, wealth flaunting, status symbol of pure prestige - how pathetic!

Are the Christians going to continue to be part of the majority, guilty silence brigade?

Tim Weller

Guardian on 'Regenesis'

In his latest work, Monbiot explains why farming is the world's greatest cause of environmental destruction, and seeks out the people who are unlocking revolutionary methods to shift our relationship with the living world. He draws on a trove of research to set out a plan for a new system that would restore large areas of our land to the wild, draw down carbon, and give everyone access to healthy and affordable food.

You can read an exclusive extract from Regenesis here, buy the book from the Guardian bookshop here.

Dale Vince’s Ecotricity begins building £11m ‘green gas mill’

Green energy company Ecotricity has begun construction of a new renewable energy facility which it says will “make gas from grass”.

The Gloucestershire business is building its new £11m “green gas mill” near Reading in Berkshire, with the firm saying it will create 30 jobs and directly contribute £3m into the rural economy.

The mill is scheduled to be fully operational early next year and will be designed to provide gas for 4,000 local homes every year.

Ecotricity, which is run by its founder and chairman of League One football club Forest Green Rovers Dale Vince, said grass provided a “breakthrough alternative” for producing green gas.

It added traditional methods of production involving use of food waste or energy crops which it said posed “sustainability issues and problems with a lack of scale”.

Ecotricity’s green gas mill will be fed by herbal lays, a mix of grass and herbs, sown and grown on farmland next to the plant.

The move comes as the company published a report into the potential for a “national green gas program”, which it said could create 160,000 jobs in the rural economy and contribute £15bn annually.

The report, authored by consultants from Imperial College London, has said there is enough grassland in the UK not involved in food production, to provide gas for all homes.

TRAIN/BIKEPACKING as part of my response to what?!

Our dear Leader's response to his own piously declared climate/Covid emergency is to live it up with big booze 'gatherings' with cake and colleagues at Downing Street and to deny all knowledge of such fun and games.  When caught red-handed, he then apologised but remains immovable as our PM - our fun-loving, Party Master par excellence!

Having discovered that my Senior Railcard was to run out in July, I packed my rucksack, loaded my pannier rack on the 1995 mountain bike and headed for the station.  The Cambrian Coast railway is popular with tourists, in particular, and has many request stops between Aberdovey and Porthmadog.  Even the glorious coast on one side of the carriage and stunning fields, woods and mountains on the other side was not enough to keep me on board.  3.5 hrs was long enough from Smethwick Galton Bridge, so it was wonderful to pile out and cycle north from Talybont to find my quiet mountain road to track down a nice, out of way, wild camping site for a couple of nights.

The road was steep to begin with but I did it without getting off.  This was followed by half a dozen gates across the lane that took me past an ancient saint's watering hole.  I was looking for running water to wash and drink from.  Soon, above me, was a trickle of a waterfall over black rocks and halfway down a tiny rock pool but, big enough to wash my hands in as I stood at the foot of this water of life.  This was my bathroom and water tap for, now two expeditions to the same spot.  Above the water, I found a sheepfold which was oblong and against a dry stone wall on the 250 metre contour.  There I pitched my bivy tent, undisturbed by sheep, slugs or midges.  One slug, somehow, got into the tent last week, despite the zip and got squashed to death!

Back twice, the second last week when I escaped a biblical deluge by the skin of my teeth.  Twice because this is such a much more interesting area to explore than on the other side of the Rhinogiau hills that we know from Cwrt.  This is THE cottage, Cwrt of many decades of our acquaintance with its spartan furnishings, uncertain showers, dodgy electrics, Gordon's brilliant emergency repairs and the Grays' fire-making expertise.  And, quite amazing meals from Narelle, Mary, Alison, Linda and Becky.

I can remember we once walked over the pass to the Roman Steps to Cwm Bychan.  It's on the wrong side of the hills from Cwrt.  The western side has lots of lower lumps and bumps, llyns and lllynau, fields and even a Woodland Trust wood with a marriage tree to find.  I didn't see it.  It was fun exploring very rarely visited footpaths and rickety stiles and even a couple of the national park authority ladder stiles.

Ysgethin Inn at Talybont and the cafe in Dyffryn Ardudwy's old primary school were welcome eating and drinking establishments.  And the Talybont station waiting shelter was also a refuge for two young women cyclists from Colwyn Bay to Machynlleth when the heavens opened and they abandoned the ride.  As well as a couple walking the Wales Coast Path.  These and more piled into the crowded train when it finally came.

All this for £25 return instead of the car.  Better than the helicopter from Glasgow COP 26 to dinner in London for one VIP - guess who!

Tim

for 28 June Greener Together Forum

About 300 council houses in Exeter have received solar panels

and insulation as part of a council's net zero aim. The target is

4000 homes by 2030.

This initiative shows what can be achieved with a quite modest

outlay. It helps people reduce tenants’ energy bills and is also a

significant step towards net zero carbon. A double win for

Exeter! Read more here.

Beveridge's Five Giant Evils - ours is hypocrisy and climate emergency denial

Dear Bob and Richard, Chris and Jules

Late last night, I came back from three glorious days bikepacking and using the train for a spot of wild camping, walking, cycling and exploring part of the beautiful countryside on the western side of the Rhinogiau hills in N Wales.  Thinking, too these thoughts I scribbled down in the back of the paperback, 'Soil and Soul' I'm reading.  It has the excellent subtitle, 'People versus Corporate Power' by Scottish climate activist, Alastair McIntosh.

Humanity is racing to catastrophe by ignoring the UN Secretary General's "Code Red Warning" to us all.  I am thinking of Andy Street's January 2020 intention that the WMCA must build his £15 BILLION, 150 miles, 8 lines and 380 tram stops of Metro trams to replace some bus routes and train lines in our region.  This is climate emergency denial in a big way in using up yet more finite fossil fuels and boosting GHG emissions very nicely after they had declared a climate emergency in 2019, I believe it was.  Lots of lovely climate busting cement and steel for all the 150 miles of totally unnecessary tram lines.  Hundreds of millions of pounds are diverted from relieving poverty; from feeding the hungry and housing the war and environment refugees fleeing to the UK.

For me, this is stealing from the impoverished to destroy a railway "of national strategic significance"

 "of national strategic significance".pdf

AND to bring about a worse public transport provision at Five Ways and Hagley Road for a temporary 3 years that has now been made permanent!

What the authorities are doing is the exact opposite of building that very basic and rather obvious eco-socialist society of greater sustainability, fairness and social justice.  Billions are to be spent without any democratic approval, to worsen the lot of us all and, especially, the lowest incomes who are struggling the most.

Please join me in writing for a rethink of this crazy, immoral and foolish policy where the money can be spent more responsibly.  Better, not spent at all except on insulating and giving free solar electricity to the least well-off in our sick, sad, off-the-rails, society.

Here, in parts, is my attempt at faint humour:

 Funny behaviour by our dear betters and masters

Another list of suggestions:

 MY CLUES FOR A CLUELESS, FLOUNDERING, WAYWARD G...

Best wishes

TO MALCOLM HOLMES, Executive Director, West Midlands Rail (WMR), and Director of Rail, Transport for West Midlands

TO MALCOLM HOLMES, Executive Director, West Midlands Rail (WMR), and Director of Rail, Transport for West Midlands

Hi Adam and Malcolm - and copied to local train driver, Dave Parsons, and a Railfuture member, for their opinion/advice.  Malcolm to please amplify, correct or confirm what I have written here, please.

Thanks for your decency in replying, Adam.

You wrote,

"a passenger rail service could only ever be delivered if a Rail Operating Company came forward with a business plan to develop and deliver it."

There is already a toc or train operating company!  They are the tocs that use our 120 Kms Black Country Mainline Railway at the northern (Derby) and southern (Worcester) ends.  If allowed, they might be willing to provide a service in the middle, as well.  However, for forty years the section between Stourbridge and Walsall has been reserved for Metro trams.  The tocs are forbidden to use it!

YET, this was no obstacle last decade when the contracts to run the services were up for grabs.  One company, was it West Midlands Railway, wanted to extend their service to meet the tram at the Canal St tram stop with their trains from Snow Hill to Stourbridge Jct reversing out of Junction to Canal Street - and then back to Snow Hill via Junction station.

Do please, Adam press for our Black Country Railway to be finished to revive the Black Country and to compete with Brum and to bypass their New Street Sta (aka 'Grand Central Diesel Perfumed Underground Station Stuck in the Basement of the Closed John Lewis Store')

"New St Station is one of the worst rail congestion bottlenecks in the UK" - Peter Plisner, Transport Correspondent on BBC 'Midlands Today' for very many years.

Your statement was no obstacle to having the trains and stations back in Brum on their Camp Hill line or, between Wolverhampton and Walsall.  Both are now finally being achieved after decades of asking but Dudley has to wait, despite the fact it is the largest UK town, by population, without a railway station!

Funny how poor old Dudley gets palmed off with second best.  Actually, gets landed with the worst possible outcome.  The whole mainline railway is broken up into HR, LR, VLR, ULR - and fresh air!  HR = heavy rail; LR = light rail; VLR = very light rail; ULR = ultra-light rail.

Best wishes and thanks again for writing.  But don't leave it there, Adam.  Right is on our side!

Tim

PS

Funny behaviour by our dear betters and masters

from W Mids Climate Coalition

Nine Action Points

Singapore and John Nightingale

Thanks for responding.  I heard about Singapore's transport from a TV documentary many years ago about how strict they were about limiting cars and dealing with traffic congestion.  I would like our transport officers to get acquainted with how they do things there and report back at a future quarterly forum.

Certainly, there seems to be no multi-modal, multi-mixed-up transport of different modes as they are giving to us, according to one email I had from Andy Street, ie HR, LR, VLR, ULR, Sprint and regular buses!!

For me (for you too, John?) this is a moral issue, as here:

Scandalous misspending

£7m/Km for rebuilding the Borders Railway in 2015; £21m/Km for M6 Toll in 2003; £75m/Km for Westside Metro; £133m/Km for Eastside Metro; over £200m/Km for HS2. All this scandal as so many are in even more dire poverty and cannot pay their bills.

FROM: Getting Around Singapore: Guide to Public Transportation (tripsavvy.com)

"Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) was launched in 1987 and has grown continuously to cover most parts of Singapore"

SELF:

Our MRT was launched in 1981 and is one line from Wolverhampton to Brum with the extension to Edgbaston Village tram stop opening next month, I've read.  The first line, opened in 1999, destroyed a mainline railway from Snow Hill to Wolves Low Level that would have improved services to Shrewsbury if the line had been used for commuter/regional trains instead of trams.  The first extension pushed buses out of Bull Street and Corporation Street to the edge of the city centre.  The second extension to Edgbaston has stopped buses using Five Ways underpass and Broad Street.  This has meant all eleven bus routes are greatly inconvenienced by narrow side roads jammed with parked cars and a longer route to Colmore Row.  Or, you change from bus to tram at Edgbaston Village for the tram and have a wait for up to 15 mins before the tram leaves.  This is not an improvement or efficiency!

In Singapore, "Avoid traveling from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on public transport whenever possible."  Not as good as I thought, then!

Can Footsteps please speak out and help me, John?

Scandalous misspending

 £7m/Km for rebuilding the Borders Railway in 2015; £21m/Km for M6 Toll in 2003; £75m/Km for Westside Metro; £133m/Km for Eastside Metro; over £200m/Km for HS2. All this scandal as so many are in even more dire poverty and cannot pay their bills.

to Paul Homewood

How do all you wise heads answer the statement from decades ago, "Either we get our numbers and our activities in line with the powers of the earth to support life or, collapsing ecosystems will do the job for us"?  As we are all part of nature is this not a self-evident truth?  I just hope I'm wrong and we can continue, as we are doing, to live it up to our hearts' content without restraint or restriction!