As a lifetime user of public transport, I would like to endorse the comments of Stella Goldstone and others re the proposed Minehead to Taunton rail link.

A proper rail service between Minehead and Taunton would be an enormous asset to me and I imagine many other local people, apart from tourists and day visitors who simply want to travel efficiently to and from Taunton and stations to Minehead without using a car.

Alan Bond says, rightly, that integrated public transport needs “joined-up thinking” (Letters August 4).

It seems obvious that, in the Minehead area, one simple step towards this would be to join the existing local line into the main rail system of the country which would give us easy access to other parts of the U.K.

I cannot believe that with a positive will and some vision, it is not possible to achieve this environmentally friendly transport link and to run a commuter service alongside the WSR heritage trains.

It is often the case that one step leads to another and creating a real rail link could lead to a more vibrant local economy, improved tourist tourist facilities and even to the creation of new bus services in the area.

It just needs the impetus for that one first step.

Sue Woodford, Bratton Lane, Woodcombe.