LONDON Crossrail a year behind schedule and billions more expensive than first planned.

Long awaited upgrade of services on the East Coast Main Line with state of the art Hitachi high spec, high speed trains already facing delays due to track problems.

Rail employees (rightly I think) striking in protest at trains operating with the driver only locked in the driver’s can and no back up staff on board to deal with passenger problems or emergencies.

Disgraceful delays and cancellations due to unworkable, chaotic revised timetables.

HS2: the totally unnecessary new rail link, costing billions we can’t afford, ruining miles of the British countryside, knocking down homes and businesses, minimally reducing journey times by a few minutes.

Rail fares the most expensive in Europe (dearer than Switzerland).

Clapped out trains often appallingly over-crowded, unreliable due to delays and cancellations and overall poor customer service.

All on the watch of the out of his depth, couldn’t care less transport minister, The Right Hon. Chris Grayling MP.

For goodness sake, get a grip Chris, sort this mess out or resign.

A recent journey from Swansea to Northallerton should have taken me six hours and 24 minutes. It actually took nine hours and 46 minutes. A nightmare journey. Not a word of apology anywhere and it cost £266!

The railway service in this country is an absolute shambles, and it is getting worse.

N Smith, Northallerton