Letter: Teutonic timetables

Tuesday 29 December 1998 00:02 GMT

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: As one Bourne to another, may I pass on some advice to Arthur and Fiona Bourne (letter, 23 December) about the hopelessness of all the website timetable information provided by UK train operators?

Facing a similar bewilderment when living in Cambridge, I followed the suggestion of a Finnish friend and looked up German railways' web site at www.bahn.de. To my astonishment, I found, in English as well as German, complete, accurate, up-to-date details of all trains in western Europe, including the UK.

It is perhaps another sign of the folly of rail privatisation in the UK that the Germans can get timetable information that is denied to the British public.

CHRIS BOURNE

Brussels

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Letter: Teutonic timetables

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering