Dear Editor, “Just arrived on that new high-speed train from London have you, sir?

‘‘Sorry you’ve had to wait for a taxi, still, get your heavy case in the back and off we go. Surprised that you needed a taxi to get you to any connecting trains, I expect? They didn’t tell you about that, did they?

‘‘Still, you saved half an hour on the journey – pity that you’ve now lost all that time catching a cab and getting across to New Street. ‘And now you’ve got my fare to pay on top of that expensive ticket.

‘‘What’s that, sir? ‘Oh yes, it’s good business for me except that, like everyone else, I’ve had more than a thousand quid added to my tax to pay for the line and now I’m subsidising your fare. And that says nothing of the amount we Brummies are having to pay for the station and all that construction around it.

‘‘Boost for local businesses, did you say? ‘To be honest, sir, I’m taking more people to catch the train to London in the morning than people coming here from London.

‘‘Looks like London’s got it nicely stitched up. Sorry about the delay in the traffic – if you run you could still get that train – hey, don’t forget your suitcase.”

Kip Warr,
Warwickshire.