I
have recently flicked through the book “The Old Patagonian Express – by train
through the Americas”. The author, Paul Theroux, shares that you can tell a lot
about the state of a country from the condition of its railway stations. And
that got me thinking that perhaps there is a little in this……consider the
windswept 1960’s Eastern Europeanesque offering in Darlington compared to the
modern and contemporary structure that has grown at Kings Cross. I guess it's a litmus test with a difference!
And
that got me thinking some more……perhaps these days the state of any country’s
roads, airports and rail infrastructure reveals much about the priorities of
Government and where they are in the economic cycle.
Compare
Exeter Airport where shire horses taxi planes to the terminal ‘shed’ to the
impressive Terminal 5 at Heathrow with its efficiency that Germany would envy,
boutiques and Gordon Ramsey offerings.
Look
at the 3 lane expansion of the A1 / M1 north of Leeds. What a difference the
areas that are finished make but do not get me started on the pedestrianisation
of the A1 north of Washington. My life is worth more than a 4 day expedition to
bypass Gateshead!
But
in all seriousness, roads, airports and rail
really are a good barometer of where we are as an economy……which would suggest
that we are caught right in the middle between ‘done well’ and ‘still plenty to
do’.
Steve
ReplyDeleteThe lack of investment in infrastructure over the last several decades is mind boggling. I believe that the UK spends abouty 3% of gdp where whereas Germany spends about 10% ( heard on radio so needs checking)on infrastructure and this is at a time of cheap money. If we do not invest now we will never do so. That is why the austerity measures are too draconian. The government should not be so fixated by tbalancing the books and inprove the infrastructure whilst money is cheap, which will of course creat jobs. Your neck of the woods could do with more after all the bad news about the steel industry.
I wouldn't disagree with any of that Nigel - very fair comments as always.
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