IN THE run up to its privatisation next month, more than 1.4 million people have already registered an interest in buying shares in Railtrack, the company which owns the Britain's railway track, stations and signalling.

The figure, which was the total registered by Friday evening, includes 140,000 automatically included because of their interest in previous privatisations.

Members of the public have until next Monday to register at share shops for shares in the company, which will float on the stock market on May 20th at an estimated value of £1.8 billion.