I READ the most interesting letters in the Times last week regarding the proposed railway route. Neither of those letters referred to the effect on road traffic.

There is no adequate road connection North to South in Devon and the claim that the A386 is adequate is a joke, as in places two commercial vehicles cannot pass each other.

If there were a proper rail route from Okehampton to Plymouth, much of the current heavy traffic could be dealt with on the rail.

The on/off specialist vehicles allow great flexibility with many containers using the roads only for the last five miles or so.

There are many other things that could be carried by rail rather than road, reducing road damage and other costs.

All of this should be taken into account when calculating the real cost of re-opening the rail route via Okehampton.

A J Wroath

Lydford