Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you.
“Significant and continued disruption for a very long time”: that was the gloomy worst-case scenario set out this week by Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover. As boss of the main surface access point between the UK and continental Europe, he was warning of the consequences of the new EU Entry-Exit System, to which the UK asked to become subject.
When it takes effect, probably next May, every departing British passport holder at Dover will have their fingerprints and facial biometrics taken. At perhaps 10 minutes for a family of four in a car, compared with 90 seconds at present, Kent could quickly become gridlocked.
Over the weekend, the Telegraph published an article by its associate editor, Jeremy Warner, headlined: “Project Fear was right all along. Six years of policy confusion and ineptitude has brought a calamitous loss of standing.”
In a bid to cheer up Mr Bannister, Mr Warner and everyone else who is despondent about the consequences of the democratic vote to leave the European Union, I have spent the weekend exploring the many and varied Brexit benefits for travellers.
After all, we know: “Brexit has given the UK a world of future opportunities”.
That is the assurance from the government, in its document entitled “The Benefits of Brexit: How the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU”. The BoB, for short.
While naysayers point to the failure of the “festival of Brexit” to attract audiences, I have been busy reading all 105 pages of The BoB to bring you the travel highlights.
Rail
Leaving the UK means we get “a simpler, better railway”. The BoB promises: “We will increase accountability and collaboration and ensure a joined-up approach to rail.”
I trust you are noticing improved train journeys already.
Aviation
“Brexit is enabling us to improve the experience of UK air travellers. This includes increasing protections, such as access to compensation, for UK travellers, as well as enhancing competition, which over time will reduce prices, improve service quality and expand passenger choice.”
Only a Remoaner would point out that the government’s proposals for compensation will reduce, not increase, consumer protection. And that leaving the EU took the UK out of the “open skies” arena in which…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…