WE LET the train take the strain, as they used to say, on our trip to Glasgow.

Why clog the roads up with traffic, we thought, when we could read the papers, do crosswords and generally chill out. The people in the rail adverts always look so happy and relaxed.

The reality, as so many rail users before me have pointed out, is a little different. And it’s really no wonder that the roads are clogged up.

We’d booked a seat on the Glasgow train from Preston, a high-speed service that promised to deliver us in two-and-a-half hours.

Unfortunately, one of our seats was occupied by a belligerent Scot who said that it hadn’t been reserved at Euston and, although the sign above it clearly said ‘reserved from Preston’ refused to get up.

"You can get the guard,’’ he said.

Which we would have, had we been able to find one.

We fared little better on the return journey when the local service from Preston – two carriages only – filled up to the point of overflow into the aisles and doorways, with more passengers squeezing on at every station.

I’m guessing that this situation arises every week because no-one checked the tickets and many passengers probably travelled without paying, making it appear on paper as if the line is not being used.

We stood for over an hour in the corridor and came to the conclusion that today’s travellers have to choose from road rage or rail rage.

It’s no wonder that half of the reunited ones decided to fly.

Apart from anything else it was cheaper than by rail!