Earlier this month Mrs W and I visited our son in Halifax for a weekend. A few days before we were due to leave our tin-top started to rattle (broken suspension joint, probably due to multiple pothole hits). I looked at the possibility of going up by train and found the return fare for the 6-hour journey from Petersfield was £158 each - so £316 for us both.

Instead, I rented a very plush automatic MG Suv from Enterprise in Waterlooville. The cost: £134 for 4 days plus £80 for fuel, saving over £100. I wonder what is the point of carving HS2 through the middle of the country when nobody can afford to use the rail network we already have.