Letters - The Independent - 15/02/2005

TV on trains

Sir: The horrifying news (report, 10 February) that train companies have

acquired a new weapon in their war against the passenger - compulsory TV - to add to uncleaned trains, overcrowding, malfunctioning air conditioning and terrible coffee, is just what we need to hear in the depths of winter.

Already train journeys are subject to asinine announcements, leaking personal stereos, mobile phone conversations, portable DVD players and various other bleeping devices. If you simply want to read a book or newspaper it is tough even in so-called "quiet carriages", which are never policed except by passengers themselves.

The train companies would be better advised to concentrate their energies on getting the trains to run on time and keeping them clean than searching for new ways of provoking us.

NICHOLAS MURRAY
Presteigne, Powys


Sir: Appalling to read that some train operators are planning to install TV screens in commuter trains (with sound as well as pictures).

Many passengers use their train journey for work, reading or quiet contemplation and this would make that impossible (unless we take refuge in a personal stereo, thus cutting us off from hearing any announcements concerning the journey or safety). Few of us have the same taste in entertainment and in my own experience most television programmes inflicted on users of pubs, shops and hospital waiting rooms (to quote just three examples) are execrable. Moreover, installing televisions in trains (and on other forms of public transport) would be a major development in the intrusion of both the media and noise pollution into our environment.

The train operators run a public service and receive enormous amounts of taxpayers' money to do so. They must, therefore, initiate a full public debate before they implement these proposals.

TONY DEWICK
London N16