I agree with your comments on Britain's rail services ("No second chances for Railtrack", Sunday Express, October 22). But, given the structural inefficiences of British Rail's privatisation, one needs to reconsider the possibility of renationalisation. John Prescott rejected the idea, arguing that it would cost £4billion, but he now wants to five the rail companies much more money from the taxpayers' pockets.
One wonders why taxpayers should pay towards the profits of private companies in return for promises to improve the safety of our rail services, which may or may not be kept. A partial renationalisation would give the Government greater influence over the rail companies and would guarantee a flow of income to the Treasury in future. the cash injection to rail companies should not be a free lunch for the companies executives.
Dr J George Frynas,
Senior Lecturer,
Coventry Business School