I am concerned that the railways in New Zealand are not kept up to a good standard. They say rail doesn't make any money but roads don't make any money either. Roads are paid for with petrol tax, diesel tax, road tax and tolls. To maintain the roads some of the tax money should go to improving railways which contribute to New Zealand roads by reducing the number of truck journeys required to carry freight around the country. Roads would last longer. There is the added cost of loading and unloading a train but that is a small price to pay for reducing the number of trucks on New Zealand roads.

V Brazier, Omanawa.