MAY I explain to Mr M Hawtrey (Letters, May 25) why an early morning return to London by rail costs £155.

Weekday trains leaving the provinces at 6.7am arrive in London at 8-9am, this being 'rush hour' when nearly a million people go to work.

The last thing the authorities want is an extra quarter of a million doddering grey heads, like us, or gawking 'tourists.'

The solution would be a duplicate Underground system. The present one just can't take any more trains during the rush hour.

The only way is to travel a day early and stay overnight, but, even then, most 'tourist hotels' don't serve breakfast until 8 o'clock, which keeps you away from the rush hour anyway.

The train companies would love to put your quarter-price backside on an empty seat at Preston at 6am, but it's discouraged. If you insist, you can go, but you have to pay through the nose.

Besides, the rail companies can 'maximise' business fares if they keep the 'tourists' off. Can't they just!

The truth is, Mr Hawtrey, they don't want you at Preston before 9.20am and then they are all over you.

DAVID PRATT, Plantation Street, Accrington.