IN light of the role GNER currently plays in the economic life of our city, your article in its support as the franchise renewal approaches is understandable (October 25).

But perhaps York deserves fewer promises and a little more progress?

Only in the past few months has GNER carried out its 1997 plans to add coaches (and much needed capacity) to its high-speed trains.

It can do this now only because Virgin doesn't need its old coaches any more.

Initially behind GNER in ordering tilting trains, Virgin now has around 80 brand new ones: GNER's fleet (of either two, five or nine), promised seven years ago, was put on hold two years later.

It borrows a handful of Eurostars, but they only run to Leeds.

Here in York, over half of our electric 225 trains are a well-worn 13 years old.

The HSTs are 27 years old with no plans for replacement; there's still no first-class lounge at the station (if Berwick can justify one, why not York?).

London to Edinburgh in less than four hours and London to York in one hour 41 minutes (1997 timetables) are timings consigned to history; and new stations at Edinburgh, Doncaster and Potters Bar remain on the drawing board.

Yet today I pay £138 for a journey that six years ago cost £61.10 - a 15 per cent increase per annum.

As the UK's only unsubsidised train operator, perhaps GNER should consider actively applying some of its profits to carrying out its promises to passengers?

And can York's rail travellers really be satisfied with franchise bids which offer nothing more exciting than "refurbishment" for the next seven to ten years?

CA Wood,

Portland Street,

York.

Updated: 09:37 Friday, October 29, 2004