Interesting to read about issues at Merseyrail - thank you for this, and for so much excellent coverage. But I was disappointed to see this framed as a "union dispute over who pushes the door buttons" - that's quite a tabloidy sneer from a paper serving a city where people have lots of reasons to mistrust tabloids, and a framing that I doubt the people who actually work on the trains would use. Why not approach the train union for a comment, per standard news reporting practice? The union's comments would be at least as informative as one from a railway industry magazine writer (the only person quoted by name here) whose outlook certainly seems less than neutral. Despite the way Miles puts it, workers having concerns about safety isn't simply a "union dispute" that is "taking a toll" (on who?). As for customers "paying twice", in the case of privatised rail we know where those payments are going, and it's not toward better services.
It's great that The Post covers issues like this; I definitely look to you to get the full picture on what's happening, or at least as much as can be determined right now, but a news story leaning heavily on "hears that", "is reported that", etc, might be improved by approaching relevant parties to go on the record. Otherwise we might wonder if you've not actually talked to the union/drivers at all - just people/organisations with a vested interest in dismissing safety concerns. On the anniversary of the deaths of 72 people in Grenfell Tower in London, it's hard not to think of how often powerful businesses and other organisation ignore warnings over safety by the people who actually see (and will be at risk from) significant dangers....with sometimes fatal consequences.
Well aware that it's a matter of opinion and approach, but can you please explain to me what exactly is so special about your photograph? I may not have the Photographers trained eye, but this is a very amateurish picture in my opinion. You calim it's from the recent Liverpool FC homecoming, I'm afraid I'll have to take your word for that, as I can see no evidence whatsoever of that. All I can see is somebody basically pointing at the Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft (like some Scouse version of Don Quixote, tilting at windmills
Interesting to read about issues at Merseyrail - thank you for this, and for so much excellent coverage. But I was disappointed to see this framed as a "union dispute over who pushes the door buttons" - that's quite a tabloidy sneer from a paper serving a city where people have lots of reasons to mistrust tabloids, and a framing that I doubt the people who actually work on the trains would use. Why not approach the train union for a comment, per standard news reporting practice? The union's comments would be at least as informative as one from a railway industry magazine writer (the only person quoted by name here) whose outlook certainly seems less than neutral. Despite the way Miles puts it, workers having concerns about safety isn't simply a "union dispute" that is "taking a toll" (on who?). As for customers "paying twice", in the case of privatised rail we know where those payments are going, and it's not toward better services.
It's great that The Post covers issues like this; I definitely look to you to get the full picture on what's happening, or at least as much as can be determined right now, but a news story leaning heavily on "hears that", "is reported that", etc, might be improved by approaching relevant parties to go on the record. Otherwise we might wonder if you've not actually talked to the union/drivers at all - just people/organisations with a vested interest in dismissing safety concerns. On the anniversary of the deaths of 72 people in Grenfell Tower in London, it's hard not to think of how often powerful businesses and other organisation ignore warnings over safety by the people who actually see (and will be at risk from) significant dangers....with sometimes fatal consequences.
Well aware that it's a matter of opinion and approach, but can you please explain to me what exactly is so special about your photograph? I may not have the Photographers trained eye, but this is a very amateurish picture in my opinion. You calim it's from the recent Liverpool FC homecoming, I'm afraid I'll have to take your word for that, as I can see no evidence whatsoever of that. All I can see is somebody basically pointing at the Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft (like some Scouse version of Don Quixote, tilting at windmills