SIR — A few weeks ago you published a letter from a Mr Webber suggesting that a commuter service on the West Somerset Railway would be useful.

Since then there have been a series of letters explaining all the practical difficulties in providing a such a service. These difficulties appear to be genuine and not easily overcome.

However, the tone of some of these replies have been unpleasant and derisive, which seems an unnecessarily rude response to a well-meant suggestion.

Around the country there are quite a few schemes in development or implementation to reopen or increase the capacity of railway lines axed or reduced by Dr Beeching. The practical difficulties can be overcome.

In a letter which also appeared last week, Alex de Mendoza wrote that discussions have been taking place about reconnecting the West Somerset Railway to the national rail network.

I strongly welcome this idea, as it would bring many benefits and opportunities to the communities along the line.

I suggest that the organisations connected to the West Somerset Railway should turn away from their internal disputes, drop their instinctive resistance to suggestions from outsiders and seize this opportunity to develop the railway.

I expect to be told that I am naïve (or worse) but I see no fundamental reason why commuter and heritage rail services cannot use the same line. And in time it might even be possible to add goods services to take some of the large lorries off our narrow roads.

Julian Spicer,

Higher Vellow,