THE Government was called on to save the Motorail service to Scotland

in the Lords yesterday by one of its own back-benchers. Lord Renton,

former Tory MP, said the service kept cars off the roads on long

journeys. But Transport Minister Viscount Goschen said it was too

expensive. ''The service has provided a valuable facility but it's

extremely expensive to operate and in fact is used to carry very few

vehicles.'' Lord Renton said that privatisation had been presented by

the Government and supported by Tory peers ''on the assumption that this

valuable service will be retained.'' Peers with estates in Scotland have

complained that the loss of the service and certain sleeper services

will make it difficult for them to get home.