Given the problems which have made rail travel to London such a nightmare over the past few weeks, it is hardly surprising that passengers have been seeking alternatives. The rail speed slow-down and detours following the Hatfield crash, further complicated by the extensive rebuilding work at Leeds station, have brought a bonanza for the coaches.

However, at around five hours for a one-way journey, the service which coaches are able to provide is largely unsuitable for business travellers from West Yorkshire who want to attend a London meeting and get back home in the same day. Hence the boom in bookings for flights from Leeds-Bradford Airport, a busy commuter airport even without this extra business.

Now, despite a day-return price tag of £286, places are said to be hard to come by on British Midland's three-times-a-day services to London. The plan being investigated by the airport, for hiring a plane and running its own flights, is an interesting initiative which not only would help to meet the excess demand but might also, through competition, help to bring prices down to a more reasonable level.

At present, they represent a substantial increase in costs for the companies who use them instead of the trains, and are prohibitive for most individuals travelling for personal reasons. However, despite that, there is a good chance that even when rail services are back to normal, some commuters will stick with the planes.

Railtrack and the train operators need to get their act together with the greatest urgency. The longer they are providing an unsatisfactory service, the more customers they risk losing, perhaps permanently.