CONCERNS over future changes to the Tamar Valley rail link have prompted the managing director of Kilbride Community Rail to reply to a letter in the Times last week (October 8).

Calstock Parish Councillor Dorothy Kirk had written a letter entitled, 'Rail shuttle idea would safeguard valley line'.

Mr Frost, met parish councillors recently who pointed out to him that the introduction of the proposed Tavistock-Plymouth rail link service could lead to subsequent apparent reduction in passenger numbers on the Gunnislake line and may even endanger the survival of the Tamar Valley line itself.

Mrs Kirk said that 'Peter Frost acknowledged the councillors' concerns and agreed to look at abandoning the idea of a separate rail service from Plymouth to Tavistock but to investigate the possibility of a shuttle, linking Bere Alston and Tavistock, with passengers from Plymouth to Tavistock changing at Bere Alston. This would safeguard the Tamar Valley Line, while still providing a rail link with Tavistock.'

In response Mr Frost told the Times that he was pleased to have the opportunity to meet Mrs Kirk and the rest of the council.

However, he wished to point out: 'I have never agreed to cancel the proposed Tavistock service but I have agreed on how the service can be bettered in design to benefit the community of Gunnislake and Calstock.

'There are some technical difficulties in the proposals that the Calstock Parish Council have put forward but I do promise to discuss with the engineers to see if we can find a solution.'

Mr Frost added that his company have always acknowledged that the present Gunnislake and Calstock rail link plays an important part of the community.