Let the train take the strain
Snow, snow and more snow.
It's been the main story today for obvious reasons.
Many workers were sent home in the early afternoon, and those who were drivers then endured long delays getting home.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I am a strong supporter of public transport. I travel to work in Liverpool's Old Hall Street everyday using Merseyrail.
As I left tonight the city's roads were gridlocked with drivers only able to move at the speed of a snail due to the heavy snowfall.
And as many workers left early the train was quieter than normal.
Of course most of the time those who drive to work face no problems getting in and out of the city and it is only on days like today that the train really comes into its own.
There were delays and cancellations on the Chester line and buses were cancelled today, so clearly public transport is no magic bullet. But on the whole Merseyrail was working well today.
If as a nation we were less reliant on our cars (yes I have a car even though I catch the train to work) is that heavy snowfall would not be as disruptive.
There are many many good reasons to use Merseyside's excellent train service, getting home when there is heavy snow just happens to be one.
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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there have been more people than usual on one of the trains I often get and the conversation has run along the lines of - didn't know about this service, actually would prefer to use it than to drive in to town. So we may find that one result of people's travel being disrupted is that more potential users are tempted to use the train. If you live near any of the stations in South Liverpool and work in town there is simply no sense in driving in as the train is easy to use and you get a chance to read the paper.
.....until the summer, when you're packed onto a boiling hot train, with some guy sweating in your face, and you think 'Sod this, I'm taking the car'!!