STEVE Broadbent's study of the proposed re-introduction of 'the withered arm' railway through Tavistock (September 27) rewards a few minutes' consideration.

The most startling information, that Bovis Homes would be required to contribute a 'roof levy' on each of the 750 dwellings built by them as part of the associated rail development estimated to cost £17.3-million. This estimate equates at £23,000 per house and slightly less depending on how many shops et cetera are built. However large the levy it would be an unwelcome oncost to the buying price of each property whether fully commercial or 'affordable home'.

The suggested seven or eight trains in a working day of 16 hours with journey times Plymouth-Tavistock of 40 minutes would mean idle time per train of over 50 per cent. If fares were not to be exorbitant the proposed £1.2-million two-year maximum subsidy would be required indefinitely from the national or local authority purse.

The line would not benefit from the revenue obtained from the high level of freight and mineral traffic conveyed on it in the pre-Beeching era. To this loss must be added shift of industrial activity from Devonport and the south side of Plymouth to the north side far from the proposed line's computer destinations.

The provision and operation of train control would not be as costly as Mr Broadbent seems to think; modern track circuitry and points control together with radio contact between area control offices (the successors to local signal cabins) result in low manpower demand at little additional capital cost.

The extension from Tavistock to Lydford, Okehampton and Exeter is becoming less a pipe-dream as the evidence of continued global warming increases. If that trend continues the Dawlish-Teignmouth section of main line will become untenable and much of the old Exeter-Heathfield-Newton Abbot line or the Exeter-Okehampton-Plymouth route re-established.

But all the research and planning so far may be nullified after the next General Election. Time will tell.

G Kirkpatrick, Tavistock

I FOUND the extensive article about the old LSWR track, by Steve Broadbent, very interesting and informative, and I entirely agree with the sentiments. It gives hope that we may yet see Tavistock re-connected to the rail system - if we live long enough!

The link to Bere Alston is as far away as 2016, if we are lucky. Eons of time further down the line we could see Tavistock to Exeter return, but don't hold your breath!

Why is it that we now take so long to get anything done in this country? The original  Exeter to Plymouth portion was constructed in only four years, between 1844 and 1848 — all the cuttings, embankments, viaducts, bridges, tunnels, stations etc, using picks, shovels and wheelbarrows, with a few sticks of dynamite.

Most of the Victorian construction still exists, yet with all the modern machinery available the possiblity is years away. We would be the laughing stock of the Victorian engineers if they could see us. We need the restoration of their rail link now, not just in years to come.

Terence Scarborough

Uplands

Tavistock