The entire board of Railtrack, including chief executive Gerald Corbett, should be immediately sacked and also face criminal charges. By its own admission, the signalling and the rails were faulty and a potential danger at least a year ago.

It was obvious to any thinking person at the time of privatisation that unless the rail regulators were meticulous in protecting the public by closing the gap between greed and need, lives would be at risk.

It's nonsense no new executives can be found to take over immediately. If John Prescott isn't up to the job, he shouldn't be Transport Minister.

-Richard Franklin, St George's Road, Brighton