RICHARD Spencer implies that the current organisation of Britain's railways was imposed by European directive 91/440, the so-called Railway Directive (Evening News, November 7). This is wholly misleading.
The directive, aimed at liberalising Europe's rail networks, required that "accounts for business relating to the provision of transport services and those for business relating to the management of railway infrastructure are kept separate".
It specifically stated that "organisational or institutional separation" was optional.
The Conservative Government went far beyond the directive's legal requirements. The Tories broke up and sold off BR business units, franchised passenger services and privatised both the provision and maintenance of the railway infrastructure.
The Tories may have used the Railway Directive as an excuse, but it was not the cause.
PAUL H GRIFFITHS,
Worcester Liberal Democrats.
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