‘I’m a train conductor — if it’s too cold for you, sit somewhere else’ | UK News

It’s clear in today’s MetroTalk, we’re feeling the chill, and what could be colder right now than the daily commute?

A compassionate train conductor reached out to share their thoughts, and it’s clear that they’re just as frustrated by the situation as we are.

One reader thinks that those in charge with preferences for other modes of transportation, potentially leads to a lack of concern for timely bus services.

And, let’s not forget the frustration of waiting for the bus, especially when you have to contend with inconsiderate vapers. It’s tough when you don’t have or want a car, isn’t it?

What do you think about our readers letters today?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

‘People will never give up their cars.’

I totally get what Ryan Cooper (MetroTalk, Wed) is saying about buses and cars – that we need more of the former so people give up the latter – but the problem is people will never give up their cars. They are lazy and use them all the time, even for short journeys. I use buses and trains all the time. I do not own a car and I don’t want one. But cars will be here to stay, I’m afraid. Vicki, Solihull

Marc (MetroTalk, Tue) is on to something with his comments about our poor bus service compared with Spain.

Even close to London, buses don’t keep to the schedule, usually not showing up at all, and there are few per hour.

This is awful when it is dark, you have shopping to carry home and the weather turns bad. No one has ever addressed the issue because the powerful people don’t travel by bus.

It shows this country has very poor transport infrastructure, which seems to be destined to be left in the 19th century. Sue, London.

Hate inconsiderate vapers, love modern language

I fully sympathise with Lyn (MetroTalk, Tue) in Hamilton and her issue with people vaping at bus shelters. I suspect that, given bus shelters tend to open on three sides there is very little that can be done to stop it legally.

Polite notices could be posted asking people to be considerate of other ‘shelter users’. While this may seem to be a soft approach, it may give people the confidence to speak up and ask people to stop vaping or at least move away a little.

I am concerned that vaping seems to be a cool thing to do especially among the younger generation.

It isn’t, they smell revolting and in the main tend to be sickly and cloying, exacerbating the discomfort to others.

I also take exception to people, usually (but not always) groups of lads who think its macho to contravene vaping restrictions in enclosed public areas. Marc, Halifax

In the debate about English usage, Sue (MetroTalk, Mon) comments on how we would all still speak like Chaucer if the language had not evolved since his day.

Chaucer made a very similar observation in his epic poem, Troilus And Criseyde. ‘Ye knowe eek, that in forme of speche is chaunge With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho That hadden prys, now wonder nyce and straunge Us thinketh hem; and yet they spake hem so, And spedde as wel in love as men now do; Eek for to winne love in sondry ages, In sondry londes, sondry ben usages.’ Judith, St Albans

Unlike Tom Red (MetroTalk, Tues), I love the word ‘innit’. It is equivalent to the French ‘n’est-ce pas’ and usefully fills a gap in the English language. Martin Grossman, Hackney

Just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should, but the photo of the supermarket shopping trolley wedged over the top of the 30ft lamppost in Malvern Shopping Park car park in Worcestershire (Metro, Tue) did make me smile. I can sense a ‘trolley’ off coming! Sara, Cheltenham

Would shop worker Gemma Barker – quoted in your story – still find it ‘hilarious’ if the trolley fell down on her?

This sort of stupid prank is done by yobs and endangers the public. Thanks for publicising this so that more mindless yobs will try one better. Mr EC Goh, London

How is it you can run an article about the Wombles return (Metro, Wed) without mentioning the late great Mr Bernard Cribbins, who did the narration and voices for each of the furry eco-activists?

Bernard provided the humour and character of the whole show and will be difficult to replace. Andrew Sullivan, London

‘Black cabbies are not a tourist attraction’

To the Falconers (MetroTalk, Tue), who after a long flight from Japan had the luxury of getting a black taxi from Heathrow to Earl’s Court but complained about the lack of conversation from the cabbie.

Just a thought, but black cabbies aren’t a tourist attraction. They are out all day and sometimes night to make a living for their families.

I know a really good shuttle service that provides the same route. Zoe, via text

As a Christian, I am appalled at Metro publishing a letter featuring a quote from Diderot – ‘Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest’ (MetroTalk, Tue).

I’m sure you would never print such a quote if it referred to the entrails of the last rabbi, or last imam. And rightly so.

All religions should be afforded the same protection against content offensive to them. MD, Hertfordshire

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