Lightburn talks

IN response to the article about a lack of consultation with medical staff over the proposed closure of Lightburn Hospital (Evening Times November 24), the proposals for change to services are driven by changing clinical needs.

Our clinical staff have been closely involved in discussions to develop the proposals which were shaped by and discussed with the clinical team on a number of occasions including at a meeting of consultants from across the north east of Glasgow.

We have also discussed this at various medical committees, all of which represent the views of doctors and all of which have supported the proposed changes.

Local GPs have also discussed and supported the proposals.

Dr David Stewart, deputy medical director, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Airport bus is fine

READING about the proposed tramtrain linking the airport and city centre, (Evening Times November 24), it is reported elsewhere that the journey will be by normal train to Paisley then passenger will transfer to a tram for the final part of the journey.

I think it is safe to assume that the time actually travelling by train-tram will be 16 and a half minutes but that the total journey time will be longer.

If I were travelling, I’d catch the airport bus from the city centre and avoid the hassle of transferring luggage from the train to the tram.

Martin Grant, posted online

Tram success

THE planners of the link have obviously taken into account the success of the Edinburgh Airport tram system.

Tram use increased nine percent to 5.2 million by May and, with the new tram/train (Edinburgh Gateway) station at Gogar opening next month, more passengers from all over the country can travel to the airport by rail.

George Ritchie, posted online

Full steam ahead

MY recent experience of the Borders Railway shows that the only trains which seem consistently to run timeously are the specials drawn by steam locomotives some of which are more than 75 years old.

Perhaps the answer to Scotland’s current railway crisis is to build many more to similar or even modernised designs.

If Scottish engineering companies are no longer up to this, then India still has the capability and I’m sure that a large locomotive order to the Indian sub-continent would do much to repair the damage by Mrs May’s recent visit.

John Eoin Douglas, by email