Al, I'm afraid that I'm unable to agree with with regards to the conductor/inspector issue.

You say:

"Ironic that the conductors were sent packing with the "labour costs" cited as the reason for their removal; and what happens later on, but they have to hire fare inspectors in later years, and far more of them than ever, as well as far more than all the conductors that were ever needed?"

Given that we have somewhat less than 100 inspectors, and there were substantially more than 1000 conductors, your grasp of the figures is out by a factor of at least 10.

Such sweeping statements may look good on the page, but they need to be grounded in reality if there is to be informed debate.

Likewise you equating my wish to see more inspectors with my falling in love with a police state, is rather over-egging the pudding.

You should be more measured in your statements, persist with this level of inaccuracy and you may find yourself headhunted as a spokesman by one or other party in our forthcoming General Election!

Aquavid