The victory in retaining the Maryhill line in North Glasgow over two "express" Glasgow-Edinburgh trains per hour shows what can be achieved if developments are challenged.

However, there are still two more challenges needed in Glasgow and the West if we're to have a "joined-up" rail system.

While £85million is being spent to provide a cross-city rail link in Manchester, Glasgow is still denied Crossrail, which would provide, at a fraction of that cost, a key transport route into Calton and Gorbals development areas.

Additionally some of the £350m "saving" from the revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme budget can now be used to construct the Garngad Chord and remove the farcical reversal manoeuvres at Springburn, which threaten travel on the Cumbernauld /Falkirk route by extending journey times.

Ian Richard

Kilmaurs

Onus on docs

WE are warned family doctors fail to spot dementia in the elderly because their training is so inadequate. How disturbing is this?

Every doctor should be able to diagnose dementia. I put a lot of the problem down to a reluctance to diagnose patients with dementia, as they assume patients would rather not know.

I think people would rather know.

George Drummond

Glasgow

Dram the rain

In these continual days of rain and dark skies I think that a new government allowance should be given to all Scots who have to suffer this rotten weather.

Let's call it the wet weather payment and make it payable after five days of rain. It should offset recent tax increases in alcohol and help people to afford a wee drink to cheer them up.

Bill Love

Via e-mail

Well done Andy

WELL done to Andy Murray for his efforts at Wimbledon this year.

It was heart-warming to hear him speak and his tears showed how much he really wanted to win the final.

I'm sure he will continue to thrive after this heroic display.

J Dennis

Via e-mail