Following Tim Richard's piece we comment. (Click here for post)

1. Whereas everything will eventually run out, oil reserves may last for decades and coal for hundreds of years. Oil can be made from coal and electricity, however generated, may be used to fuel electric road vehicles.
2. We do not "slate rail" instead we research the facts. Contrary to expectation those show that, if express coaches and lorries had access to the rights of way occupied by the trains, costs would be cut by a factor of at least four, the death rate to passengers would be halved, fuel consumption would be reduced by 20-25% and carbon emissions by 15%. Further those express coaches and lorries would fill only a small fraction of the capacity available. For example, even in London and in the peak hour, the passenger flow , if carried all seated in 50-seat coaches , would occupy only one fifth of the capacity available. Hence the spare could be taken up by the many thousands of lorries and other vehicles that currently clog unsuitable rural roads and city streets so bringing very substantial environmental benefits to the nation. See facts sheets 1 to 12.