WE now read that Lord Birt has become the man to put the nation's roads and railways in order.

In the first chapter of his report he tells us that Britain has the European Union's most congested roads, the least electrified railways and no high-speed train system.

Some years ago Dr Prideaux gave us the results of a three year study of the East Coast Main Line -as it was then).

What did he find? That top of passengers priorities were a guaranteed seat, a reasonable fare and trains on time. I could have told Dr Prideaux of these priorities without all the hassle.

One wonders what will be the outcome of Lord Birt's report. Not much I imagine. I suggest he concentrates on trains running on time and forgets about higher speed services and priority for tilting trains.

When I joined the railways in 1919 - as office boy at Morley in the days of Great Northern Railways - there were more than a hundred bits and pieces of railways. Nationalisation virtually reduced this to one 'piece' but now we are back to 100. As an engineer said to a friend: "When we needed occupation of the track on a Sunday, I had to make one phone call - now it's five."

Railway shareholders wanting instant profits should accept that their investment can only be medium to long-term - maybe up to ten years - and consider what they might do to help in this direction.

Earnest Booth,

Dodsworth Avenue, York.

Updated: 10:23 Wednesday, January 30, 2002