ITis unlikely that there would be much sympathy for an increase in the number of rail strikes.

Public transport staff complaining about their work-life balance is rather like sailors moaning about getting wet. Goes with the territory.

Train managers are not poorly rewarded for their core task of announcing that the next station is incomprehensible and that the buffet car is between Jeremy Corbyn and the hen party currently changing into nurses' uniforms in the toilet.

I try to avoid trains as much as I try to avoid cutting off my own feet.

All recent rail experiences have been negative and while a lightning strike, the meteorological sort,knocking out the Darlington express is hardly the fault of any provider, a local service from Manchester would have rivalled a hot day in a Victorian tannery. My suggestion would be complementary deodorant.

Granted, when main line services run well they are quicker than domestic air travel, given that you get on without taking off half your clothes. And, if you stump up for a bankrupting first class ticket, very comfortable.

Any alternative needs to be immensely powerful, well appointed, quick as 'oh dog not again' off a shovel while demonstrating access to conspicuous wealth.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Range Rover Sport now standing at platform 100k is the five-litre SVR to anywhere you please so long as fuel consumption is not an issue

The SVR represents a new direction for Jaguar Land Rover, a super-sporting version of a standard car. How sporting? Well is 4.5 seconds to 60mph hot enough or do you want the tyres setting on fire?

The main difference to the everyday Sport is a supercharged V8 petrol engine which pokes you in the guts with 550bhp and 680lb/ft or torque while at the same time making the sort of engine noise which stampedes cattle. In Bolivia.

This is an engineering masterclass, high end performance bolted to top quality. You cannot be remotely interested in cars and not increase your pulse in the SVR.

It looks all muscle, huge black mesh grilles to help cool the V8 and four exhaust pipes to help with that sweet, sweet supercharger music which is transmitted through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Obviously this is not a car to buy if you worry about economy. Get over 20 miles to the gallon you may have missed the point.

Which is to sit in the lap of sculpted leather luxury. Some claim the SVR ride is a little abrupt. I didn't notice. There was simply too much fun to be had even if it is forbidden to approach the 162mph top speed.

This is a great car to drive. It has poise you would not expect from an SUV,which appears to have burned my underpants, handles with authority on its 21-inch wheels and yet glides down the motorway in style.

It is far from impractical, there is a big boot for the dog and plenty of human space, too.

Obviously it has the Range Rover off road set up with an automatic choice or manual selection for varying terrain. All I would suggest is that at £95,000 for the standard spec you would be looking for especially clean mud to play in. And possibly different tyres.

Adding the extra trappings which ice the cake will push the bill up to £102,635. This includes a sun-sensitive windscreen, surround cameras and towing assist. Not to mention an £800 digital TV, without which no day at the races would be complete. Likewise the £1,000 head up display.

Look, I am not exactly in the first flush and if I tried to list every standard feature and fitting my life would be over before the last paragraph.

Take the train if you wish or spend your day disrobing in a regional airport. My choice is to kick sand in the face of lesser performers. It may even prove a cheaper option.