August 29.

James Beeley says that I ''would do well to get my facts straight

before criticising rail subsidies''. It is true that road taxes in

1990-91 were #19 billion (12% of all tax revenue), and that less than

24% of that sum was spent on roads. Ninety-three per cent of passenger

kilometers are by road, 89% of freight.

It is true that BR received over #1000m from the taxpayer in 1991-92

and that but for the #30 subsidy from Strathclyde region fares in the

region would double.

The transport department White Paper, paragraph 7, states that 40% of

Japan's railways are private, with the remainder being privatised; that

the Swedish Government operates a private-sector tendering system; and

that privately owned American freight railways have been successful and

profitable for 10 years.

Many rural trains seem to carry a busload of passengers. If the

engineering problems associated with rail buses are insuperable then the

future for little-used ''social'' lines is bleak. Why not just run a

subsidised bus? The Central Transport Consultative Committee mentions

the single-car Class 153 as the workhorse but BR has serious problems

with the new Class 158.

I would remind Mr Beeley that a train with a busload of passengers

uses as much diesel and that electricity generation from fossil fuels

also causes pollution.

Thomas E. Whittle,

19 Kildoon Drive,

Maybole,

Ayrshire.