TTIP and CETA

[Sebastian Toe]

No, really, that was the offer.

Was it minuted at a meeting or is that just another one of your fantasy assertions?

[Hope]

No you wouldn't. It was actually closer to three and a half hours according to my Sat Nav and I rounded it up to four. I'll give you five if it makes you happier. Of course, that takes you from anywhere in the vicinity of Cardiff to anywhere in the vicinity of Ipswich whereas the train time I looked up (best time on a Saturday is over 6 hours) doesn't take into account that you have to get to Cardiff station and you have to get from Ipswich station to your destination.

Sorry, jp, using Google Maps and putting my home address and my destination address in Ipswich in, it reckons 4hrs 8 mins via the M4 (or 3hrs 51 mins with no traffic).  Well, we know that there is rarely no traffic on that route - especially at the times I would ned to be travelling  Using the A40, it takes 4hrs 20mins.  As I said, I used to catch the train at 05:25 train a five minute walk from my house, and arrive in Ipswich at 10:07 - with a five minute bus or car drive at the other end.so, just under 5 hours door to door.  Cost-wise, the car fuel, etc. was much of a muchness with the train and bus (on an open return) but on the functionality at a meeting score, the train wins hands down.

The train companies are not operating in a monopoly situation.

But the various considerations around which a choice is made put the train considerably ahead of any of the others.

[ProfessorDavey]

The point is that there are alternatives to the train. The train companies are not operating in a monopoly situation.

Depends where you are and what journey.

I commute into London every day and there is no viable alternative to the train - and indeed to a single train company.

I can't drive because there is no parking at my work and nearby it is all residents only parking.

There is no bus service that is usable - I've just checked and the fastest service is scheduled to take 2hr 40min - the train takes 20 minutes.

A taxi would be prohibitively expensive.

And on the train there is only one route that is really viable - my journey on that route (door to door including my cycle across London) takes 1 hour on a good day. The alternative route (also the same train operating company) would take nearly twice that.

So my train operating company (Thameslink) does have an effective monopoly on commuters commuting into central London.

[jeremyp]

Sorry, jp, using Google Maps and putting my home address and my destination address in Ipswich in, it reckons 4hrs 8 mins via the M4 (or 3hrs 51 mins with no traffic).

I said I'd give you five hours.

Using the A40, it takes 4hrs 20mins.

Why would you use the A40? It's M4, M25, A12.

As I said, I used to catch the train at 05:25 train a five minute walk from my house, and arrive in Ipswich at 10:07 - with a five minute bus or car drive at the other end.so, just under 5 hours door to door.

As I said, putting the journey into National Rail at the time on Saturday when I posted got a minimum of a 6 hour journey.

Cost-wise, the car fuel, etc. was much of a muchness with the train and bus (on an open return) but on the functionality at a meeting score, the train wins hands down.

You mean it does for you living only five minutes from the station and going somewhere that is only five minutes from a station and setting out at an ungodly hour. And that's fine but it does not alter the point that there are viable alternatives and these might be better for other people in different circumstances.

[ProfessorDavey]

I said I'd give you five hours.

Which is about right, given that in numerous Cardiff - St Albans (smack on that M4, M25, A12 route) trips I haven't achieved less than 3 hours any time this year I think. And St Albans to Ipswich is about 1.5 hours.

Why would you use the A40? It's M4, M25, A12.

Indeed - see above.
 

As I said, putting the journey into National Rail at the time on Saturday when I posted got a minimum of a 6 hour journey.

Sure, but that is very unusual and due to engineering works on the Cardiff-London stretch o Saturday. The normal week-day schedule is just over 4 hours and that is allowing, to my mind, excessive time to get from Paddington to Liverpool St, which is just a single tube.

You mean it does for you living only five minutes from the station and going somewhere that is only five minutes from a station and setting out at an ungodly hour. And that's fine but it does not alter the point that there are viable alternatives and these might be better for other people in different circumstances.

Sure, driving may be a better option in some circumstance, the train in others - a flight isn't a viable option though.

I note no response to my post about my commute, where there is no viable option for me other than the train.

[Jack Knave]

Was it minuted at a meeting or is that just another one of your fantasy assertions?

You think the EU minute their meetings, that is the ones that really affect things? 

[Sebastian Toe]

You think the EU minute their meetings, that is the ones that really affect things? 

Ah, so one of your fantasy bletherings then. One of which can neither be proved or disproved. How convenient.

[Jack Knave]

Ah, so one of your fantasy bletherings then. One of which can neither be proved or disproved. How convenient.

So you can furnish me with all the minutes to the Commission's and Council's meetings then?

[Sebastian Toe]

So you can furnish me with all the minutes to the Commission's and Council's meetings then?

Even if I did, you would claim that they were doctored if they didn’t say that you wanted them to say.

[Jack Knave]

Even if I did, you would claim that they were doctored if they didn’t say that you wanted them to say.

Big IF

[Sebastian Toe]

Big IF

Still true though.

[Jack Knave]

Still true though.

Straw man to try to avoid the challenge. Avoidance noted.

[Sebastian Toe]

So you can furnish me with all the minutes to the Commission's and Council's meetings then?

You want all the minutes to all the meetings?

[Jack Knave]

You want all the minutes to all the meetings?

Just get me some of them, a hand full.