I HOPE that the demise of Railtrack will finally lead to a railway network dedicated to the benefit of passengers rather than shareholders.

I have no argument with those who want to gamble on the stock market, as long as they accept that they may back a loser from time to time. Railtrack has not failed because of a failure to attract public money -- it has been given billions since privatisation. It has, however, failed to deliver on many promises made for the best part of a decade and lost the support of a travelling public who were always promised jam tomorrow.

If the West Coast had been upgraded over the past few years, if extortionate quotes for new stretches of electrification hadn't stifled the investment of potential local authority partners, if the new station at Middlebrook had not cost the best part of £4million, and if our crumbling town centre bridges had been repaired, then I may have had more sympathy for further extra cash injections from the public purse.

Frankly, I think it right that Railtrack should pay the price of failure and accept that a new start is needed.

Stuart Murray

Broad o'th' Lane, Astley Bridge, Bolton