But you don’t have to go to Japan to make a comparison, you can, as the GP suggested, look at the rest of the country which has abysmal public transport - not fit for purpose - where at least it mostly works in London.

Before another penny in capital expenditure is spent on TFL, every other city in the country needs a metro and decent bus services.

Leeds remains one of the largest cities in Europe with no tram, trolleybus, or metro system. This having had the offer of such things rescinded multiple times.

Leeds was the specific example I had in mind when writing that comment. A city still entirely dominated by cars.

With awful consequences for its productivity and environment, no less. It is easier to commute to central Leeds from Hebden Bridge, Saltaire, and Mythholmroyd than from actual suburbs of the city itself. Utterly ridiculous.

Totally but it’s the correct comparison to make. Most people can move to other parts of the UK, not to Japan

Did you want to trade the British work environment and culture for its Japanese counterpart too?

Maybe? Japanese companies have a lot more loyalty to their employees.