Independent, The (London) - Letter: Passenger power for cheaper trains

AIR TRAVEL prices are not sky-high enough is one conclusion to be drawn from “Sky-high (train travel) prices from pioneer of cheap tickets”, 30 April. A grossly polluting plane will take me to the Canary Isles for 14 days for pounds 139: it is so cheap because no tax is paid on aviation spirit, no VAT is paid on tickets, and the pollution costs are externalised. Many need to go to London by Virgin Trains; few have to fly to the Canaries.

JOHN D ANDERSON

Baildon, West Yorkshire