I WAS bemused by Monday's headline 'Trains chaos as storm hits York' (August 21).

This week storms are very much surplus to requirement.

It began last Sunday when the 5.11am to Manchester Airport did not 'happen' due to, 'the conductor failing to appear'. Ditto for the 6.11am. A conductors' stag night maybe?

The remaining sole representative of British Rail attempted to assuage the rising frustration by contacting a coach to take us there. By 6.30am the coach hadn't arrived and the relaxing, hard-earned one week's holiday was disappearing fast.

Our flight was scheduled for 9.20am. We had no choice then but to take a taxi for £95 pounds. After our holiday we returned to the station at 10pm and we waited only ten minutes for a train. But only because it was the delayed Newcastle train - delayed for five hours.

Unfortunately it was also the day when Manchester United hosted the Newcastle fans and anyone who wasn't slurring Blaydon Races was seen as a suitable target for abuse.

There was no conductor on board this train and several of the passengers, myself included, felt threatened.

In fact at the next stop my partner and I got off the train because the atmosphere was becoming increasingly explosive. This resulted in an expensive stop- over in a hotel. So much for a budget holiday break.

All I can say is - never again. From now on I drive to the airport.

Brian McCusker,

St Oswald's Road,

Fulford,

York