MAY I congratulate you on launching the 'Not Getting There' campaign. For 11 years I commuted daily to the Black Country by train and retain a catalogue of frustrating experiences. I empathise with your correspondents who are suffering very similar problems.

I now possess a senior rail card and do a lot of rail travelling, most of which is leisurely and not too frustrating. However, in recent months, I have experienced overcrowded trains, especially the 9.15am train to Worcester on Saturdays and missed appointments due to trains running late or being cancelled. I wish you and the other campaigners every success on this vital issue.

In view of the article on page nine in the Malvern Gazette of January 23, I feel buses should be part of any local transport campaign. Midland Red (or First as they now call themselves) appear to have changed timetables and routes at will, passengers in the Albert Park Road and Elgar Avenue areas have had a particularly rough deal.

Yesterday I made two journeys by bus, unaware there had been changes. Neither of the two drivers had new timetables for passengers. An attempt to travel yesterday evening from Great Malvern station to the Link had to be abandoned completely due to these unpublicised changes and a taxi taken instead.

There are other operators in the area who provide good services, such as the Malvern Hills Hopper, the Wye Valley Wanderers and Aston's services to Gloucester and Cheltenham. Most of these services are subsidised and I would urge more people, especially ramblers, to use them or they could be lost.

MR R W LEVERETT, Lansdowne Terrace, Malvern.