ONLY two people can save our rail network now -- Sir David Frost and Sir Richard Branson.

Both are leading players in the sphere of communications in one way or another, one of whom is heavily involved as a "people mover" already with his Virgin Trains franchise, arguably the most efficient train operator as it is.

These two together could get their respective heads round the present train troubles. The suggestion is that unless the nation's railways are renationalised, which is probably not feasible, they would become a duopoly under Sir David and Virgin corporations.

Existing train operating companies -- some more or less efficient than others it has to be said -- would be wound up and the powers of the present Strategic Rail Authority be passed directly to the Government. Railtrack ditto. Running the trains themselves would be the joint responsibility of the newly amalgamated Paradine (Sir David's company) and Virgin group. They would jointly take over the existing BR infrastructure and actual running of our once great railways. The efficiency of our rail network has declined, is declining and ought to increase. Under the two suggestions herein it could well do so.

This country invented the railway, a spin-off from the Industrial Revolution. I strongly feel the aforementioned duopoly would soon put the "Great" back into Britain, act as an economic detonator and give us once again the best rail system anywhere.

M L Rose,

Clevedon Road,

North Shore.