At a basic level it cost more than the petrol and took longer (on this occasion at least), but I surmised that I would be doing my bit for the planet and be more productive at the same time. I could get some work done and travel in relative comfort, arriving fresh at my destination. As I sat on my Virgin Cross Country train travelling south my 3G signal was up and down like a veritable yo-yo and I had to snatch uptime in the vicinity of areas of habitation and stations (sic).

The reason for resorting to the old modem tucked away in my mobile is because, unlike National Express, Virgin don't offer WiFi on their trains....yet, and the mobile reception is poor compared to National Express (at least on the trains I tend to frequent). That's not to say the WiFi service on National Express is wonderful. Admittedly it's free, but when the train fills up with commuters all trying to catch up with their emails then the thing verily goes t### up and I'm back on the old 3G trying to get a fix at each destination on the way home.

Hands up – this inconvenience allowed me to wax lyrical and pen this missive (this at least I could get on with), but there is a greater imperative here. Implementing reliable and fast WiFi facilities on train services makes the proposition more attractive to the erstwhile car driver. Employers at least would feel that a train fare, albeit marginally more expensive than the mileage allowance, would allow their employees not to devour time by sitting in a traffic jam and do something constructive. It would give train travel a critical edge over the car.

It's certainly easier for me to compare the two modes of transport, being as I am in close proximity to a mainline city station, but I can tell you it's no picnic fighting your way in or out of a major city in a car, especially at rush hour.

I recall hitting fog and the train sailed through the vapour without slowing. Now that's something I wouldn't contemplate doing in my car.

Unlike the car the train is somewhere where you can use your mobile, drink coffee, eat a bacon roll and fill in your expenses all at the same time AND get to your destination.