Your report that city transport chiefs are planning to improve local travel information is most welcome (January 18). However, the information must be accurate, up-to-date, reliable, and comprehensive. People will not be lured "out of their cars and back on to the buses" by the following:

Timetable errors. Difference in timings between one table and another is often a problem

Out-of-date information. It is fine to put information on the Internet. However, to present old information for many weeks after changes have occurred renders the facility useless.

Non-availability of timetables. To be told they are "not available" is tantamount to saying that your custom is not wanted. Railtrack manages to ensure that its public timetables are not vandalised. Why can't other operators?

Non-availability of information. The exclusion of any service that starts or passes through York would seriously diminish the usefulness of the information.

Timetable changes. Distribution of timetables information to homes is not a one-off operation, but a continuing obligation. Finding times have changed after starting a journey is quite unsatisfactory.

John N Ibbott,

Tedder Road,

Acomb,

York.

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