JOHN Barum points out that the Barnstaple railway line had 12 per cent growth in passenger numbers over the last year (North Devon Journal, August 26) and that the line merits more and better carriages.

Rail travel has also grown greatly in other parts of the country, indeed over the same period Tiverton Parkway had a 49 per cent increase, Totnes 36 per cent, and Taunton 32 per cent, to show just a few examples.

In comparison, Barnstaple's growth is disappointing, especially since the period included the introduction of an almost hourly service, which is certainly the best service the line has ever had.

Perhaps the reason for Barnstaple's poor performance, compared to Tiverton Parkway, is that the 39 mile journey to Exeter takes well over an hour, as the trains are required to slow down for so many request stops en route.

Given that 80 per cent of the line's usage is to or from Barnstaple itself, and that another 14 per cent is from Umberleigh, Eggesford and Crediton, with the other seven stops accounting for just 6 per cent between them and average less than one passenger per train service.

Regular travellers are well aware of this excruciatingly slow progress, especially when the train is almost full, or over-full, end to end.

If the intermediate stops were reduced to just the three well used ones, that still leaves every community along the line within five miles of an hourly service, which is very generous provision indeed for a rural area.

It would also mean the journey would take under one hour, which in turn would mean two trains would do the work of the three currently deployed on the line, while the spare carriages could be used on the existing trains.

Problem solved.

More carriages available, faster, more comfortable journeys, more passengers carried and very important, much less taxpayers' subsidy required.

PATRICK ADAMS, Yarnscombe, Barnstaple.