Apply logic to railway problems

SO, Mr Paice thinks we need to put rail at the heart of Britain s transport system does he? (Ely Standard Letters May 10). It s a pity that during his term in Government while European countries invested heavily in their rail systems, he and his parliamen

SO, Mr Paice thinks we need to put rail at the heart of Britain's transport system does he? (Ely Standard Letters May 10).

It's a pity that during his term in Government while European countries invested heavily in their rail systems, he and his parliamentary cronies never had the vision to pursue the same ideals. One has to remember Mrs Thatcher's famous boast of never having travelled by train to understand their dubious mentality.

But then they say hindsight is a wonderful thing!

As I recall, throughout the 18 years of Conservative stewardship that this country endured, far from investing in the railways, they presided over a transport system that was consistently starved of the investment it needed for renewal of its infrastructure.

Mr Paice as a minor apparatchik in the Major government was indirectly responsible for creating the monstrosity called Railtrack which on taking responsibility for the railway's infrastructure wiped out much of the long-standing track and signalling maintenance regimes in a number of cost-cutting exercises for the benefit of its shareholders.

What followed were disasters such as Southall, Ladbrook Grove, Hatfield and Potters Bar with their needless loss of life.

Just as Mr Paice's logic was flawed during his time in Government, age has not improved it.

Why should the current Government spend millions of taxpayer's money to ensure the tidal surge of London commuters is favoured twice a day? Why, if he is really so concerned about the gruelling regime commuters endure does he not apply some lateral thinking to the problem?

It would be more logical to relocate those employers (especially NGO's and public bodies) that fuel such commuting, out from the centre of London to where the employees now appear to reside. Such a policy would negate the need for expensive investment and reduce the commuter overcrowding to a more sustainable level. That to many people would appear to be a more logical solution, especially the commuters as they would save financially by not having to fork out on the extortionate fares the privatised train companies now change,

But of course, I forgot, Tories do not believe in interfering in private business even their intransigence produces stress in the workforce or the slow poisoning of our environment.

NEIL MORRISON

(Ex BR employee)

Fieldside

Ely.