WHAT a way to run a railway! While the Government has spent billions of pounds bailing out the banks, without even ensuring proper public control of their future actions in return, York-based rail maintenance company Jarvis has called in the administrators, at least partly due to lack of Government investment in the railways.

An excellent, safe and well maintained railway system will help tackle climate change and to support and create much-needed jobs. Surely after the Hatfield disaster in 2000, the dangers of cheese paring on track maintenance should be apparent.

I was pleased to read (The Press, March 26) that York Labour MP Hugh Bayley has been “urging Network Rail to keep its track renewals going” so that Jarvis workers can continue to be employed on this essential work.

But what we need is much clearer leadership from Government. The Green Party would take the whole railway system back into public ownership and make sure available investment is targeted at essential services such as these.

In the meantime, let us hope that the Government can quickly find a way to guarantee the future of the 350 jobs under threat in York.

Andy Chase, Green prospective Parliamentary candidate for York Central, Nunnery Lane, York.