THE one thing of which you cannot accuse Julian Thake is consistency.

Initially, he argues (You Say, November 11) that, because an EU Directive required the separation of track and operating costs, the only way to do this was to set up separate organisations.

So Railtrack was set up because of this EU Directive. Some four weeks later (You Say, December 8) he accepts that rail companies can keep two sets of accounts which completely contradicts his earlier argument.

So as not to lose the argument, he then claims that this has meant more bureaucracy and higher subsidies on the continent (You Say, December 22).

I doubt the former as having separate organisations means you need armies of accountants to allocate costs and charges.

Regarding the latter, I accept that the continental railways receive higher subsidies and this is why their services are better and prices lower than they are in this country.

As someone who travels by rail, which obviously Julian Thake does not, I would welcome higher subsidies if they meant a better service.

COLIN JONES, Worcester.