YOUR two separate articles in last week's edition deserve some clarification. The campaign by the Peninsula Rail Group for the reinstatement of the Plymouth to Exeter line via Okehampton and Tavistock would clearly be beneficial for the West Devon economy, but the proposal lacks significant level of detail and ignores the critical issue affecting the whole of the south-west region. This is the need for a fast – two hours 40 minutes — reliable inter-city service from London to Plymouth. This can only be achieved with a new inland line from Exeter via Newton Abbot into Plymouth, the option that is favoured by almost all parties across Devon and Cornwall, and was originally approved by Parliament over 70 years ago. Your separate article on the extension of the Tamar Valley Line from Bere Alston to Tavistock correctly identifies that the scheme was incorporated in the 2011 West Devon Core Strategy and has been subject to detailed planning and costings. Significantly this single track line would be fully compatible with any mainline development south of the moor and would not be subject to delays, while the powers that be, ponder on the massive challenge of re-opening the Okehampton – Tavistock line. There is no doubt that here in the South West we desperately need improved road, rail and/or air links west of Exeter. To achieve this we ideally need a realistic approach and a united voice. We will otherwise face the real danger of central government doing absolutely nothing to address this situation. Robin Musgrave, WDBC Ward Member for Bere Ferrers