It will be far from a merry Christmas on Britain's ailing railways. The star of Bethlehem must have been easier to follow than the seasonal rail timetables - it was certainly more reliable. The modern rail industry suffers by comparison.

Today's announcements by the train operating companies amount to a warning that the present mess is to continue through Christmas and beyond. This is a depressing prospect for those affected - and that means almost everybody.

Worst hit are, of course, the passengers. Commuters have seen their daily routine shattered as services are axed, journeys prolonged and timetables improvised.

Local businesses are losing out too. The York floods deterred so many visitors that the city is running a promotional campaign to encourage people to make the trip. But many will still be put off by the unreliable rail service.

Staff at companies who rely on regular contact with the London markets have either had to cancel appointments in the capital, or endure what can become a ten-hour round trip.

Now the situation is going to get worse. Demand for train travel peaks at Christmas as people go home for the holiday. The chaos at major stations this year hardly bears thinking about.

Travellers using what was until recently Britain's fastest railway, the East Coast Main Line, still do not know if or when they can travel over the festive period. Such is the chaos caused by the safety checks after the Hatfield crash, GNER is, as yet, unable to provide a Christmas timetable.

Even those train companies which have published a timetable accept that it will not be reliable.

Safety comes first on our railways. The Railtrack work has to continue, and that makes for unreliable timetables. But it should still be possible to supply passengers with accurate, up-to-the-minute information. Every effort must be made to ensure passengers spend less time on platforms and trains and more time with their loved ones this Christmas.