Costly silence

SIR: A recent leader article in your newspaper welcomed a decision by the newly privatised Great Western Railway, to ban mobile phones, personal stereos and loud talking on its trains (BEN April 6). While I am sure that many travellers would endorse this decision, I am sure that any silence derived from a mobile phone ban on the Great Western Railway, will be quickly offset by the heated complaints of passengers when they realise the true costs of rail privatisation. So far, £1 billion of our money has been spent by the government on 'advisers'. Added to this is a staggering £25,000 a day spent on lawyers' fees! In the mad gallop for profits, a privatised rail system will result in lower investment, lower safety standards and higher fares.