The SH2 is choked because of accidents and too many cars. The Hutt Valley Line isn't running because of faults. The Great Harbour Way which would make it safe and attractive to cycle from Petone isn't likely to get built any time soon. It seems John Key can't fix any of them. New Zealand is broke, and Wellington is broken. Perhaps its time to seriously discuss moving the capital to Palmerston North.

I agree, rail commuters are well aware of the rail upgrade/maintenance work needed to get it all ready for the new trains. We accept that. What I am disgusted with is the old school Government employee attitude that as long as they have a job who cares about the customer. I was walking to the J'ville line to catch a train home from the city, the trains were running late (surprise,surprise) and there was a train ready to leave 5mins before my scheduled one. I was tired and didn't feel like running to catch this one, I was happy to wait until my scheduled one albeit late. Needless to say I was shocked to hear abuse shouted out to me by the train guard that I better f****n hurry up and get on it!!!!!! I indicated that I wasn't concerned about missing this one but he insisted that I was holding up the train and that they were already running late, in a very aggressive tone. It's not the first time that I have been subjected to poor attitude from train staff and it's this that I'm keen to see improved rather than the train lines. It is no wonder that passenger numbers are decreasing and KiwiRail's answer to this is increasing fares smacks of bad judgement and lack of understanding of what the 'real' issues are.

Re Editorial comment "commuters are switching from trains to cars because it is the only way they can be sure of getting where they're going on time." Guess Plan no. 2 didn't work this morning !! Just proves that the roads are also subject to unforseen delays also.

Even when Kiwirail run communications they get it wrong. Yesterday morning I was woken by a text at 5.55am telling me that the trains would be running to schedule. That was no comfort when at 7.40 we waited at Wallaceville station for a train that never arrived. At 8.10 the next train (which at that stage was 10 minutes late) arrived. We were told by the Guard that the train was no longer express but would be stopping at all stations. Then at Taita the guard said that we were back to being an express. Obviuously no one told the driver as he stopped at all stations. For the third time in a row the Guards decided not to face customer comments and did not collect tickets. No problems to Kiwirail as the ticket box goes to the Regional Council, but for us Monthly passes it means that we have to pay for a lousy service twice.

I think you're being a bit rough on poor Basil.

I think Basil Fawlty could spill a bottle of wine and a plate full of food over a customer, and *still* have better customer service than KiwiRail.

So... are we ready for the Rugby World Cup? Do we even know what it means to be ready?

I was impressed by KiwiRail's lack of communication in January. I caught the train 3 days in a row, all were delayed. On the third day the train was over half an hour late when another person at the station rang the customer help line, who weren't aware there was a delay. They had to go find out what was wrong and call the gentleman back.