Should railway passengers face fare rise?

IT IS difficult to understand the Government’s policy on paying for improvements on the railways. When they were run as not-forprofit organisations, it was not unreasonable to fund improvements that reduced running cost, increased capacity or boosted revenues by fare increases. However, other private industries have to finance such works from profits or borrowing. Under the Government’s policy, the railways are allowed an everincreasing percentage for improvements through fare increases. The railways should be renationalised or the train companies required to finance their business in the same way as all other industries.

A. B. CREWS, Beckenham, Kent. THIS summer, I visited Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden by rail. The cost in mainland Europe was 21p per mile compared with 65p per mile in Britain. European governments subsidise rail networks to support their infrastructure, while we face an above inflation rise in ticket prices. RICHARD WHITAKER,

Wokingham, Berks. I COMMUTE to Bournemouth with South West Railway, which is only a 16-minute journey, and keep a record of late-running and cancelled services. I have been delayed for two hours in the past fortnight. Every morning my train is late. One Monday last month, we were advised not to travel because of over-running engineering works. Train prices are set to increase in the New Year, but why on earth should the long-suffering public have to pay extra for an appalling service? SUE HUDSON, New Milton, Hants.