Rail fares race ahead of inflation

I see that rail fares are to up by an average of 8% next year. Inflation is currently 4.4% (RPI), and the chances of any of us getting adecent pay rise something like 0%!

Apparrently rail fares have been rising on a formula based on inflation: It has been RPI + 1%, but for the next three years it will be RPI + 3%.

This begs three questions:

1. Why do rail fares go up at a higher rate than inflation at all?
2. Why are they going up at a higher than normal rate over the next three years?
3. How is 4.4% + 3% equal to 8%?

Here's an answer to question 3: "Some fares will go up by far more than the 8% average, because train companies are allowed to increase fares by another 5% on top, as long as that is balanced with reductions elsewhere." (courtesy of the BBC) I wonder where the "reductions" are to be found - not on any popular routes, I'm sure!

Apparently the answer to quesion 2 is that the government is trying to reduce the taxpayers' burden for the railways; thus, people using the service (fare payers) have to pay more. But will the money go to improvements in rail services?

I could find no answer to question 1.

England game postponed due to riots

I wonder what it will take to stop the opportunist looters (rioters) wreaking havoc in England's cities of late. First, and worst, London, followed by Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol, have seen riots, violence, arson and looting in the last few days.

Now several football matches have been postponed, including England v Holland, scheduled for Wednesday night at Wembley. Others to fall victim are the Carling Cup ties at Crystal Palace, Bristol City, Charlton Athletic and West Ham United.

I can't see football fans tolerating that for long - though I've no idea what they will do in response. Currently the England v India test match at Edgbaston, scheduled to start on Wednesday, will go ahead - but it does have the benefit of being played during the day.

I'm sure we could all argue day and night about the causes for these riots, but it's difficult to see how an incident in Tottenham can have anything to do with riots in cities over a hundred miles away. That is why I describe them as opportunistic looting.

Can you see what I see - use your imagination!

One thing that amused my wife and me on our holiday to the Neapolitan Riviera was the number of times our guides (on transfers and trips) asked us to "use our imagination" and see what we could spot in the rock shapes etc. See if you can pick out from these: the Virgin Mary, a man's head, two elephants kissing, St Francis and another Virgin Mary. And you've got to guess which one is of my own making!

Sorrento and the Amalfi coast - wonderful!

I've just come back from holiday with my wife to Sorrento, Italy. Overlooking the Bay of Naples, it is a beautiful place, with the stunning Amalfi coast within reach.

Here are just three photos to demonstrate. 1. Sorrento bay; 2. Vesuvius; 3. Positano

We'll be going back. If you haven't been - go!