December 3.

Benedict Brogan's report relating to ScotRail's bid to electrify the

main route between Glasgow and Edinburgh and to increase the frequency

of the services makes interesting reading to many in the North (November

29).

No doubt the worthy citizens of Edinburgh and Glasgow will appreciate

Mr Bleasdale's intention of reducing the journey time from 50 to 44

minutes. The fact that it will cost upwards of #75m seems to be a mere

detail.

Electrification will cost #25m and new rolling stock #50m. For an

outlay in the region of #20m Mr Bleasdale could construct 12 miles of

new track and a bridge over the Dornoch Firth and reduce rail travelling

time for people in Thurso and Wick travelling to Inverness from the

present three hours 44 minutes to approximately two hours 50 minutes.

A new track would also reduce maintenance costs substantially. Mr

Bleasdale's enthusiasm for central belt improvement is in stark contrast

to his reluctance even to consider such an improvement to the North

line.

Mr Bleasdale has consistently argued that bridging the Dornoch Firth

would be too expensive, but EU Objective One grants would probably cover

75% of the cost and we believe these funds could be better spent on a

major project that would benefit the North of Scotland for generations

to come rather than on a multitude of smaller projects which would only

provide a short-term benefit.

Hugh Manson,

Secretary,

Thurso Community Council,

Alistair Roy,

Secretary, Royal Burgh of Wick

Community Council.