MOST people want Britain's railways to be returned to public ownership amid the fiasco of who will run the West Coast Main Line, according to a survey.

A poll of 1000 people by the train drivers' union Aslef showed 70% were in favour of renationalisation, the highest majority returned in such polls.

An even bigger majority of 86% wanted profits made by train companies ploughed back into the industry.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: "This shows that rather than tinkering with the existing system, the public supports public ownership of the railways and of the Government taking the responsibility to provide a national, efficient railway service."