Sad comparison
We travelled on two trains yesterday; in comfort in ordinary Turista on the Spanish AVE from Figueres to Barcelona, then in a shoddy and under-catered First Class carriage on Cross Country from Newcastle to Dunbar. UK train operators are taking the piss, they really are.
Categories: General
Quintin Jardine's blog 
Not just the infinitely better condition of the trains, but the huge difference in price. We shall be travelling to Scotland in the spring, and already we are dreading having to use the filthy trains where you hardly dare sit down for fear of what might be on the seat.
Not sure why you have this low opinion of the Scottish trains Diana. I have not found any problems apart from with the fares unless you can book in advance. The worst trains I have found have bern local ones in Italy and those around Chicago.
Not just Scottish trains, Joy, u.k. ones generally. The best trains I know are in Spain, even the local chug-alongs are spotless, and the AVE is fantastic.
Best thing about the Spanish trains is that they run on time, and yes, the AVE is excellent. Although there is still some crappy rolling stock around, it is being modernised. However you can say the same about Scottish trains; no more springs through the seats on the North Berwick run. As for the toilets, they’re uniformly dodgy.
Sorry about this, but I can’t resist is. Is there a subconscious connection between your mention of springs in seats and dodgy loos?
Logically, the only answer to that question can be, I’m not aware of one.
I admit it. It was rather a fourth-former, behind the desk lid type of thought, but I still liked it. However, given the somewhat sodden state of the south west of England, maybe not the right moment.