HOW TO DOUBLE YOUR TRAIN
SIR,—The experience of A. A. Mowat with the muddy young man in his first-class compartment was an unhappy one. I was disappointed to learn that British Railways could be coldly indifferent to suffering. My own complaint received very different treatment ; within eight days of my letter to the Railway Executive they doubled the length of a train for me. This was perhaps no very great achievement—it was not a very long train to begin with—nevertheless, those of your readers who daily travel in the corridor may be impressed to see what can be gained from a judicious approach.
About a year ago, as the theatres, cinemas and restaurants of Brighton were reverting to later times of closing, there arose on Saturday evenings an intolerable overcrowding in the last main-line train to leave. After one night of particular discomfort I decided to write to the British Railways. I began, however, by congratulating them on the recent, if fleeting, reappearance of the fire in the waiting-room and on the extension of cheap-day fares and excursion trains. After this chapter of praise I was loth to have to point out the shortcomings of the 11.10 p.m. Having done so I remarked that several trains left almost empty on Sunday mornings and suggetited that at their expense it might be possible to find a few extra carriages for the Satuiday-night train. There came a prompt acknowledgment from the Traffic Department at Waterloo, and, a fortnight later, this reply: "Referring to my letter of the 5th instant: I am now pleased to inform you that arrangements have been made to strengthen the 11.10 p.m. train front Brighton to Haywards Heath on Saturdays, by providing two additional coaches, which have been attached since the 13th idem. As a result of this action, it is hoped additional comfort has been provided."
I hardly felt myself "at the mercy of indifference and discourtesy," nor, I think, would Mr. Mowat have so felt if he had approached the authorities on a matter more completely within their control. For the abuses and disrespect of which he complains he should hold responsible, not the Railway Executive, but the frame of mind of an increasingly large proportion of our society as a whole.—Yours faithfully, 38 Wood Ride, Haywards Heath, Sussex.
WALTER C. CoRBErr.
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