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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Minister to cross Britain by rail | Minister to cross Britain by rail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Frustrated commuters will get direct access to Transport Minister Lord Adonis when he embarks upon a six-day rail voyage across Britain. | Frustrated commuters will get direct access to Transport Minister Lord Adonis when he embarks upon a six-day rail voyage across Britain. |
| The minister will board the Paddington to Truro sleeper on Easter Monday - armed with his laptop and a £375 standard class Rail Rover ticket. | The minister will board the Paddington to Truro sleeper on Easter Monday - armed with his laptop and a £375 standard class Rail Rover ticket. |
| On Saturday he will reach York after a 2,200-mile trip taking him as far north as Inverness. | On Saturday he will reach York after a 2,200-mile trip taking him as far north as Inverness. |
| Lord Adonis said he wanted "first-hand experience" of the rail service. | Lord Adonis said he wanted "first-hand experience" of the rail service. |
| He told the BBC the trip was "deadly serious" and not just a publicity exercise. | He told the BBC the trip was "deadly serious" and not just a publicity exercise. |
| 'A good experience' | |
| He said: "I think it's very important for ministers who are in charge of public services to really experience intensively the public services they are responsible for. | He said: "I think it's very important for ministers who are in charge of public services to really experience intensively the public services they are responsible for. |
| "I don't think you can be a good transport minister unless you really do understand instinctively how the transport system works. | "I don't think you can be a good transport minister unless you really do understand instinctively how the transport system works. |
| "My plan is to get to railway lines I have rarely or never used." | "My plan is to get to railway lines I have rarely or never used." |
| The minister's journey will involve some 45 trains. He added that when on official business he travels first class, but on all other occasions he uses standard class. | The minister's journey will involve some 45 trains. He added that when on official business he travels first class, but on all other occasions he uses standard class. |
| THE ADONIS EXPRESS Monday night: London to TruroTuesday: Truro to Newquay via Par. On to Exeter, Yeovil, Wareham, Bournemouth and BrightonWednesday: Brighton, Ashford International, Margate, Gillingham, Gravesend, Tilbury, Upminster, Romford, Ipswich and NorwichThursday: Norwich to Peterborough, Birmingham, Chester, Crewe, Manchester, Preston and CarlisleFriday: Carlisle to Newcastle via Middlesbrough and Darlington. Then on to Inverness via Edinburgh and FalkirkSaturday: Inverness to Edinburgh via Aberdeen before ending the tour with a visit to the National Railway Museum in York | |
| Lord Adonis also said that if trains were too crowded to find a seat, he would have to stand along with other passengers. | |
| He said: "I won't have any alternative if I get on a train and it's full, that's what I'll have to do. | |
| "But it's good for me to get these experiences and of course the government is doing a lot about them." | |
| After leaving Paddington, he hopes to speed through Cornwall, East Anglia, the West Midlands and on to Aberdeen, before arriving in North Yorkshire. | After leaving Paddington, he hopes to speed through Cornwall, East Anglia, the West Midlands and on to Aberdeen, before arriving in North Yorkshire. |
| Any signs of cabin fever will be logged on a Times Online blog. | Any signs of cabin fever will be logged on a Times Online blog. |
| A spokesman said: "Andrew is travelling solo and is happy for commuters to chat to him." | A spokesman said: "Andrew is travelling solo and is happy for commuters to chat to him." |
| Lord Adonis was appointed minister of state for transport in October 2008, having served over three years at the then Department for Education and Skills. | Lord Adonis was appointed minister of state for transport in October 2008, having served over three years at the then Department for Education and Skills. |
| In January the government announced plans for a new high-speed line, which will run between London and the West Midlands, and possibly on to Scotland. | In January the government announced plans for a new high-speed line, which will run between London and the West Midlands, and possibly on to Scotland. |