OK, so I'm wading into politics here (and public transport) but there are people who seem to have this inherent knack of pissing me off very quickly. Ok so my temper tends to be 0-psychotic in 3 seconds, but that is entirely beside the point.
And this time, the sitting duck is one of the heads of the GMPTE (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.)
Many will have noticed that the people of Manchester weren't too keen on the prospect of being charged to drive round our own city (after VED, fuel duty, insurance tax, maintenance costs, vat etc etc etc ad infinitum.) In fact the result of the ballot was as close to a "FUCK OFF" as you could ask for.
The local authorities wanted £2.75bn to spend on public transport which Manchester is in desperate need of. In return for this loan (yes, loan!) from central government, they thought that the people of manchester could pay twice for it (once in our general taxes, where do you think the loan was coming from and again in the charge.... brilliant!!!!!)
Anyway, this is beside the point.
The leader of the GMPTE has now had the nerve to be mouthing off in the Manchester Evening News about how well the plans for the Metrolink is doing and how bright and shiny the new trams will be when they are delivered.
Oh good, looking at the bigger picture eh?
OK, let me tell you something. The metrolink (owned by the GMPTE, profiteered operated by Stagecoach) runs one line, a branch line and a stump. It does not encompass Greater Manchester at all, it caters for; City of Manchester, Bury, Trafford and bits of Salford. But they are putting all their eggs in the basket which they own!!!!!!!!!!!
MerseyTravel have invested over £1m in staffing all its stations, WYPTE have bought new commuter trains to ease chronic overcrowding.
And Manchester? doesn't give a fuck to anyone who doesn't live along its owned infrastructure.
So, people of Manchester, move to near a tram stop otherwise soon you will have to drive everywhere!!!!!!
