Train of thought

However, the report, by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, also makes a key distinction. Accepting that increased subsidies for train operators is unrealistic, it places the onus on the railway industry to fund some improvements through existing resources.

This is important. Train operating companies are, on the whole, part of far larger transport conglomerates which have previously attributed a shortage of rolling stock to the uncertainty created by short-term franchises.

This excuse, however, is redundant – like so many of the outdated rolling stock shunted away to the railway sidings. The coalition is committed to issuing longer franchises to provide far greater stability.

Given the extent to which transport funding continues to be skewed in London's favour, few will be surprised that the capital city's interests have, yet again, taken precedence over the rest of the country. It has been a familiar story for far too long.

However, this should not preclude Yorkshire's train operators from being more innovative in tackling overcrowding – and making a commitment to ring-fence the extra revenue generated by the forthcoming fare increases so that this money can be spent on new carriages. It will be a start.