I READ with interest the article on the new direct rail link to London. As someone who travels to London twice a month, I feel it was well overdue.

However, before we start celebrating, let me ask a couple of questions

How can I get excited about this when the very same day it was launched, I spent an hour waiting for the train to arrive to take me to Birmingham New Street Station?

The 07-38 was cancelled and the 07-55 was approximately 18 minutes late. If we can't get the local service right, how are we expected to get the London service right?

How long will it be before we hear the same old excuses - we are entering the time of year when the track is either "covered in leaves, or it's too cold and the track is frozen."

And let's not forget the classic "we are sorry for the cancellation of your train, but the train driver has not turned up." When I complained about this last year I was told "it's not our fault, if your ill, your ill".

And two days later the London Underground staff were on strike?

Let's not open the champagne just yet.

R MILLER

Foley Park

Kidderminster