From: Graeme Phillips
Topic: Rail workers to learn German

Regarding the matter raised about UK rail staff finding themselves in situations where they have to learn German (rtmjobs.com, November 10), I have absolutely no sympathy. We in the UK place too much of an expectation on others to learn English and it is time our narrow-minded population stepped out of its bubble and reciprocated the favours done by non-English speakers for us.

Being septalingual, I am possibly misguided about the ease with which the population at large is able to learn foreign languages. However, this does not cancel out my view that Britain’s workforce should be able and willing to learn new and varied skills when called to do so by the demands of their job.

It is my view that it may be increasingly useful for rolling stock engineers to speak German anyway. Germany has the longest railway network in Europe. Siemens is increasingly appearing to be the more competent of the major train builders (Alstom and Bombardier’s ‘bad loser’ attitudes in recent tendering decisions are testament to this). Also, Bombardier has major factories in Germany (the bogie factory in Siegen and the vehicle assembly and propulsion & controls factory in Hennigsdorf). Plus the recent talk about Germany’s influence in European discussions regarding bailing out fiscally irresponsible nations, on account of its recently regained economic clout.

With the services Deutsche Bahn is planning to run to London, railway industry workers may conceivably find they get a discount on the Deutsche Bahn services, as indeed many already do with Eurostar services. Learning to speak German will greatly enhance their discounted trips to Germany - when one goes on holiday, speaking the local lingo greatly enhances the quality of interactions one can have with locals.