I couldn’t disagree more with Adam Trimingham’s view on Britain’s nationalised railway system of the past (The Argus, May 7) when he reminds us of a time when British Rail was seen as a national joke.

However, we're not laughing now, are we?

Maybe Mr Trimingham has forgotten – before privatisation we had nothing to compare the railways to.

What I can remember is, even as a low-paid apprentice engineer in the 1970s under British Rail, I could always afford to travel by train between Worthing and Brighton and take regular trips to London. I can’t afford regular trips now.

What has privatisation brought us? Expensive fares and crowded trains – and even if you can get a seat you feel like a cooped-up battery hen.

The old-style British Rail train carriages may not have met modern day health and safety standards but at least they had wide, comfortable seating and affordable fares. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will look forward to the day when a government is willing to bring back this publicly-owned service for the good of the people.

Ian Hunt, Pavilion Road, Worthing