With the existing franchise system, European governments run a large part of British railway operations, ie France, Germany, Belgium etc.

Trains built by the Japanese or Italians and rail signalling by the Germans. Welcome to rail privatisation.

So please Mr Osbourne (The Argus, August 22), explain why British railway operations and build by this country will not work.

Government subsidies are higher under this privatisation, fares are higher, train crowding worse and I see no improvement in the actual running of British railways.

In fact, a disaster.

James Greed, Wheatfield Way, Brighton