Yes thanks John, very interesting.
Overall the transport of the uk has over the years undergone many change arounds, some good some bad and some really awful, I look at the West coast main line every day, I only live yards from it, and after all my years on the railway, first on the footplate until the end of steam and later as a guard, I honestly see nothing in todays modern railway that would or could entice me back on there and the railway was my life for a good many years.But today the old atmosphere has gone, even the locos and rolling stock of these modern trains does absolutely nothing for me.
Perhaps I am getting old.
But it is the same on the buses, one man operation, no conductors, and wherever you go in the country and see a bus, it is probably the same as the ones that run around your town, there is just no interest any more.
I will pursue my "new career" with my model railway, albeit slowly, but couple it with my memories and enjoy it into the bargain.