But sadly it is too little, too late.

For the new timetable, which sees the number of coaches on some trains reduced and the level of service on others curtailed, comes into force in less than 48 hours.

The time for voicing opposition has sadly long gone.

But the changes do illustrate just how the railway companies in this country have got it all their own way.

"... every day the railways provide a reminder of what a complete failure the privatisation of the railways has been."

They have a virtual monopoly in the areas in which they operate.

Take First Great Western. They are the only company running trains between the South West and London. They also operate all of our local rail services.

Train companies benefit from considerable government subsidies and they seem to be allowed to increase fares consistently without any real restraints. As a result we pay through the nose to travel with them and have practically no choice over which company to use.

Added to that we have to put up with frequently crowded trains simply because they do not have sufficient coaches on them.

Yet the Government stands by and does nothing.

Every day our railways fail to deliver a decent service but politicians, who are supposed to represent our interests, do nothing.

And every day the railways provide a reminder of what a complete failure the privatisation of the railways has been.

Nobody surely can pretend otherwise.

Politicians would like us to travel more by public transport and less by car. Given the current state of the railways that is nothing short of absurd and, what's more they know it.