ERIC Hyland is spot on when he highlights the premise of maintaining profits for shareholders in our public transport system.

This model is spread across all other privately provided public services. Several years ago the East Coast railway line was abandoned by its private provider as service and profits were poor. The Labour government took over the franchise as an arms length non profit making service, known as 'Directly Operated Rail."

This service operated successfully for a number of years, taking no subsidies from the government, operating at a profit and won a national award for its excellent passenger service. Note no shareholders involved.

Roll forward a few years and we have a Conservative government. The East Coast franchise was put out to tender. The existing franchise holder, Directly Operated Rail, was excluded from the bidding process and is currently in the hands of private providers.

This model of tax payers' money subsidising multi-national corporations is to be reinforced when the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact trade agreements are signed all over the western world. The treaty will give international courts funded by big business, the right to challenge decisions made by governments about services they contract on behalf of the public.

As an example, the East Coast franchise would not have been awarded outside the private sector. So I fully support Mr Hyland and Preva Crossley in their efforts to highlight this scandalous state of affairs.

With congestion and climate change in mind we certainly need a reliable and cost effective public transport system.

Mrs F Henderson

Westhoughton