GRAHAM Kirkpatrick (Letters, April 20) must be living in the past if he thinks he can commute in rush hour quicker by car than the proposed new train service time of 30 minutes into the commercial centre of Plymouth (which could well include an extension to Royal Parade). The proposed costs in terms of Strategic Transport are low as the cost of the whole new railway is less than the amount just spent on improving (?) one junction on the increasingly congested A386 road at The George and Airport. The benefits of the new rail link to Tavistock will be enormous ? not just for commuters and the increasing numbers of visitors coming to Tavistock from Plymouth. After the Fort William to Mallaig line, the Tamar Valley line is the most beautiful railway line in Britain and with the proposed grant of World Heritage status to the area the tourism potential is huge. All those who visit by train would not be clogging up our limited town centre car parks. Well done, Devon County Council, for having the foresight to put the new rail link in their Strategic Plan and to progress the study. Those who regularly commute to Plymouth are asked to contact the consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff who are researching current travelling patterns, on 01823 424 405. So Graham, please don?t live in the past but look to the future and where Tavistock will be in ten years? time. One can envisage the A386 totally log-jammed and all the visitors flocking in by train to view the Best Market Town in Britain to see our wonderful heritage, eat our great local food and visit and museum (which I know is dear to your heart!) John G Taylor Chairman Tavistock Forward
