THANKS to Julian Thake and E F Showell (You Say, November 9 and 14), I have now obtained a copy of the European Union directive which, they claim, was the reason why the Tories set up Railtrack.

Having read it, I have to wonder whether they have. I must agree with Paul Griffiths (You Say, November 1) that all the directive requires is "separate accounts for train and track operations".

The directive makes it clear that separate organisations are not necessarily required. This leads me to wonder why Messrs Showell and Thake take the line they do because, as far as I can recall, the Tories never claimed they were setting up Railtrack because of an EU directive.

I presume the reason is that they are so anti-EU they want to blame it for as much as possible instead of putting the blame for Railtrack where it belongs - the Tory party.

Finally, I would say to E F Showell that the repetition of a rumour does not make it true, although he may believe the saying that, if you repeat something often enough, it may come to be accepted as true.

I maintain my view that the argument that Railtrack was set up because of an EU directive is a canard.

COLIN JONES, Worcester.