The decrepit state of our creaking Victorian railway network is leaving it open to ridicule

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Train companies and railway staff extract a remarkable level of performance from our creaking Victorian network, but the signs of physical strain on its infrastructure are already starting to appear – and according to Network Rail’s own predictions, it’s just going to get worse. Previously the government could rely on season-ticket sales to commuters in Woking, Winchester and Weymouth travelling to Britain’s busiest rail station, London Waterloo, to underpin the rail industry’s finances. “Do not travel” was the message to commuters attempting to reach Waterloo station – ironically the London HQ for Network Rail – when a signal failed. The cancellation of almost the entire morning rush hour at Waterloo cost around £1m in lost revenue – with much greater losses across the capital’s economy, from a dentist in London SE1 who had to cancel all her appointments to pubs and restaurants who saw far fewer customers for the now-customary Thursday-evening celebrations.