Being a retired train driver with 46 years experience working on British Railways, and seeing and listening to the media with regard to the railway accidents over the last three to four years has made me very angry.

The previous Tory Governments from 1979 to 1997 produced policies which have led to the loss of more than 30 lives and even more when you consider the BSE policy on animal feed.

In my opinion, these were not accidents, they were the direct result of irresponsible policies and planning by the former Tory Government and I hope the people of this country will remember this come the next general election. I, and many of my retired train driver mates, always felt that this would lead to the problems this country is experiencing on our railways today.

For the Tory Transport Minister to come out now and admit they made mistakes, does nothing to compensate for the misery imposed on the dead and injured peoples' families. I would like to reiterate Ann Lubin's words in her letter to a previous edition of your paper, when she said vote Tory, never, never, never. For me it is, vote Tory, never a thousand times over.

NORMAN WILTSHIRE

Pembroke Street

Old Town

Swindon