So Selby reader Peter Rickaby (Letters, November 22) thinks Rachael Maskell is a hypocrite? Methinks the boot is on the other foot,

I have commuted extensively in the UK by rail over the last 15 years. Narrowing it down to Leeds, York & Selby (as your reader cites) the operating rail companies are Hull Trains,Transpennine Express and - I suspect the company he is alluding to - Northern Rail. I have made countless journeys with Northern Rail and I have never once not had a guard in attendance. In fact I have witnessed Northern trains held until an out-of-position guard has turned up for duty.

We must retain guards. I don`t know what fantasy trains he has seen arrive without guards, but over the years I have seen many incidents - medical emergencies, drunks, antisocial behaviour, fellow passengers being intimidated, confused foreign travellers, breakdowns etc - where, without a guard, situations could prove fatal.

I would therefore like to thank Rachael Maskell for standing up to Serco and suggest Mr Rickaby stick to non-guard buses which he has obviously confused with trains rather than taking a cheap shot at a hard-working MP doing her job.

William Moore, Lochrin Place, York