The lower the passenger count the higher the per passenger subsidy. I can understand subsidies for island communities but someone is having a laugh when there is a twice hourly train service to London.
Say 50 minutes train travel from London to Southend, check-in 2 hours before departure and a 1 hour 25 minute flight. Total 4 hours 15 minutes while Virgin trains offers 2 trains an hour in as little as 3 hours 16 minutes.
Nice one.