Extend LNER instead

I disagree with Industry Insider, in his attempt to make a case for taxpayer support for open access services ( RAIL 914).

If it is felt that more services are needed to and from cities such as Hull, Bradford and Sunderland, it would be far better to require the taxpayer-owned LNER to provide them.

There would be no need to support the additional management organisations of the open access operators, and the services could be integrated with

LNER’s fleet and traincrew operations.

Indeed, if services were operated by 2x5-car Azuma formations, these cities could be served by means of detachments of five-car sets at Doncaster, York or Leeds - saving paths on the East Coast Main Line and thus improving performance.

Peter Foot, Bedford