STEVE Broadbent's interesting article (September 27) on the proposed reinstatement of a rail link to Tavistock will no doubt rekindle some lively debate on the subject.

Before it does, however, there is something very fundamental that should not be overlooked. When Tavistock lost its rail service in 1968, there was little more than a squeak of protest. It was the passengers from Calstock and Gunnislake, as well as those from Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston who have sustained the Tamar Valley line these last 44 years, and without whose support there would be no railway at Bere Alston to extend northwards to Tavistock.

In an age where nobody should be seen to be disadvantaged, it is wrong to expect the people who hold the credit for the very existence of the line to play second fiddle to a town that has decided that it too would like a slice of the action.

Any plans for the reinstatement of the Tavistock line should gratefully recognise the part played by the users of the Tamar Valley Line in ensuring its survival, and not penalise them by expecting them to accept a lesser rail service than they have come to expect, or indeed to have to hop across the platform at Bere Alston in the pouring rain to change trains.

Brian Poole

Via email

STEVE Broadbent's article on the proposed (and pipe-dream) railways was most informative.

However, I note that Richard Burningham, whom he quotes as an authority on the viability of the re-opening of the old branch-line, is even more enthusiastic and resorts to disinformation to justify the 'Need for rail'.

He claims, apparently, that it can take up to  an hour and a half by road to get into Plymouth, whereas the train-ride will only take half-an-hour!  That sounds impressive! But he should have made it clear that the road journey is by bus, not by car! And that most parts of Tavistock are at least 20 minutes' walk from the proposed station; and the nearest shops are almost that far from Plymouth station;  and on the way back you have to carry the shopping!

It would have been more accurate, though less eye-catching, if he had written that the whole trip might be marginally quicker by train than by bus;  but only if the traffic's bad!

Still, if, as he suggests, schoolchildren will come into Tavistock by train, at least that should stop some of the school buses from blocking up the roads!

Tony Belcher

Meadow Brook

Tavistock