ONCE again hundreds of passengers were stuck for hours on the East Coast Main Line because of problems with the overhead power lines (August 6).

It appears the misery will continue because the firm has been granted only a two-year extension rather than the 20 years it sought. As a result the upgrade to the overhead power supply is now on hold.

Just a minute, am I not right in thinking that the overhead supply is a Railtrack responsibility and if it is not fit for the job then it is up to them to sort out?

Whoever finally gets the franchise will not stop running electric trains and as such there will be a continuing need for a reliable overhead system. The franchise extension argument therefore is largely irrelevant. Railtrack should pull its finger out and get the revamp completed now.

The money used for the fat cat pay- offs would have helped. My sympathy's with the passengers.

Frank Hanson,

Summerfield Road,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 11:40 Saturday, August 11, 2001