As a mere SLF, It has NEVER crossed my mind to question the safety of FR's operation.
When the buses were first deregulated, there were plenty of dubious-looking vehicles plying the routes.....now the vast majority are clean, modern and "look" safe.
There's a strong parallel there, EXCEPT....That's not the issue.
Joe Public IS aware that all UK public Transport is heavily regulated and hastotal confidence in the administration of that regulation.....therefore , ANY Public Transport in the UK is "safe"
Wether it's morally or ethically sound is another issue altogether....
I'm minded of the tale that "Beardy" was escorting a VIP female and took one of his Hostie's cape to lay on a puddle for the VIP to cross it ...a great brouhouha at the time, as the girl was given under an hour to refresh her uniform and report back for duty......the defence to these actions, IIRC, was
"I pay top money for intelligence, initiative and dedication,-if it's lacking, they don't have a job with me"
So, there's nothing new. However much you resent MOL's success, he's built a very strong, dynamic company on the back of understanding that Air-Travel is no longer the perogative of the elite.
No doubt the same scenario obtained in the early days of motoring when the landed Gentry were aghast that mere tradesmen could stretch to "DIY" motoring.
Yes, I think on this occasion , this might have been a shot in his own foot....but again, it garnered a lot of "free" publicity and rattled a few cages and probably curbed some of the worst excesses. Result!- for him.