What’s the point in a rail fare hike if train services never get any better?

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

A correspondent from the BBC was at London Bridge station this morning commenting on today’s rail fare rise. He did mention it briefly, but almost £1bn has been spent on the upgrade of this station and yet wheelchair users still cannot access the trains without a ramp and help.

As someone whose walking is impaired, though I can still manage steps, I wonder why fellow citizens more impaired than me are forgotten in such a callous way? Investment in a public service like railways surely has to be for everyone in the nation, not just those who can walk unaided.

Steve Mumby
Bournemouth

We all know how utterly inept, unqualified and lacking in any insight Tory MPs and particularly this government are. I have just seen one of the most inept and unsuited to his role, Chris Grayling, walk straight into a trap of his own making by stating on BBC Breakfast that he will feel the hike in train fares like everyone else. He was immediately challenged that he had personalised the issue and that people will know he won’t be feeling the pinch.

Does he not grasp that we know he will claim any increase back on his expenses? This lot claim every penny they spend back. Remembrance Wreath? Claim it on your expenses. Twenty-nine pence car journey? Claim it back. Eye test? Claim it back. Grayling really does sum them all up, doesn’t he? Stupid.

R Kimble
Leeds

Can we really put our differences aside?

If Dai Woosnam (Letters, 2 January) really wants to demonstrate his goodwill, I suggest he pledges his assets to underwrite the economic costs of Brexit to the UK. This would evidence not only his magnanimity but responsibility and principle; facets which Remainers believe are in short supply on the “other side”.

Marc Patel
London SE21

What the hell is Dai Woosnam on about?

As a Brexiteer he is suggesting that if we do exit Europe it will be some sort of victory, and the victors should be magnanimous to the poor band of confederate losers. I have honestly never heard such nonsense in my entire life!

If we exit Europe, the only victor will be stupidity itself, in my opinion.

What needs to happen is that the stupid people in government need to get a lot smarter and realise that, if Brexit does happen, there will be a wound here which will NEVER heal.

Chris Bonfield
Address supplied

Brexit betting

It is ironic that our government, which from April is rightly slashing the stake on fixed-odds betting terminals, should continue to gamble our futures on its Brexit deal where the odds are clearly stacked against us. Our MPs’ new year’s resolutions must be to cure it of this addiction.

Roger Hinds
Surrey

Sadiq Khan’s pro-EU fireworks

Showing the EU flag was fine, bit of a laugh really, and it’s fun to hear folk spluttering about it. Playing music at midnight when the crowd wanted to sing Auld Lang Syne, another matter. The muzak ruined the occasion for me. Let’s all sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight next year, no music intruding.

Barry Tighe
Address supplied