[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Your article on railway speeds in the Spectator of October 13th hardly does justice to our own companies. Allowing that the figures are accurate, there remains the fact that very few people can afford to travel by these foreign fast trains. I have a time-table before me of the Paris-Marseilles trains of last winter : there are nine trains timed; of these six are first-class only, one first and second, and two only carry third-class passengers. The fastest train averages forty-four miles an hour, the second-class a little over thirty, and the third-class between twenty-six and twenty-seven. The second- class train and one of the third carry a second-class lavatory ; there are no third-class lavatories, though the journey third- class takes nearly nineteen hours. This form does not com- pare very favourably with our magnificent expresses with their really comfortable third-class corridor and dining cars,
all of which means extra weight,—a side of the question so often lost sight of when questions of speed are discussed by non-experts. Is it not a fact that the German Transatlantic companies are paid enormous subsidies P. These subsidies are much less likely to be abolished if the national pride is roused,—a consideration which does not enter into the calm. lations of directors of English companies.—I am, Sir, Sze.,
FAIR PLAY,
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