I was pleased to read Joan Ryan castigate the train companies for ripping off commuters (‘A world away from the reality for hard-up commuters’, Opinion, January 14).

We once again see a steep rise in ticket prices to accompany the new year. Ms Ryan went on to talk about reforming the railways as a solution – even more pleasing. However, when her letter moved on to what Labour plan to do, it is woefully short of this.

I can see the train companies now quaking at the prospect of passengers being given some forum in which to express their voice and the focus on ticket machine pricing, whilst welcome, will have no effect on the season ticket prices she quotes.

Given that recent polls show more than 60 per cent of the public supports renationalisation of the railways, is this not something she, and her party, should be promising if they were serious about stopping the companies continuing to line their pockets at the expense of passengers.

Tony Buttifint

Dawlish Avenue, Arnos Grove