Sir - My wife and I recently travelled to Bordeaux on a three-stage rail journey: Oxford-London-Paris-Bordeaux. Two of the three trains departed and arrived exactly on time. I leave your readers to guess which one didn't.

But I have to say that the reason given by First Great Western for the late running of their train (06.30, Oxford-London, March 4) was ingenious and breathtaking.

The usual disembodied voice apologised for the 15-minute delay (25.86% of journey time) by pointing out that the train had left Moreton-in-Marsh 15 minutes late. But Moreton-in-Marsh was the starting-point. Isn't this the same as turning up late at work and saying: "I'm sorry I'm late, but I just left home late"?

Nigel Clarke Oxford