Sir, – I would like to reply to the letter by Joseph Gilmour (July 11), Looking for Rail Link Answers.
I have been in contact with the secretary of the Levenmouth Rail Campaign to see what it says about rail fares.
He responded by saying: ‘We cannot make any definitive statement about rail fares, but they should be fully in line with rail fares for the rest of Scotland, so should be reasonably competitive with bus fares but, critically, offer better mid-range transport options.
“In particular, residents from Levenmouth and the East Neuk presently pay more for journeys of any distance since we have to buy separate bus then rail tickets. We badly need an integrated ticketing system, like the Oyster Card, but the rail link may reduce some of this cost.”
My own experience is that a few extra miles at the end (or start) of a significant rail journey, such as this proposed reconnection to Levenmouth – often make very little difference to the overall fare.
I trust that this makes more sense and puts people’s minds at rest.
Mr Gilmour is obviously proud of his 37 years’ experience of working on the railways, and rightly so, but people who have been dedicated to a job for that long tend to have it in their blood.
It becomes part of their life, and their character – so what really could have led him to campaign against the revival of the Levenmouth route? You would have thought he would be happy to see its return.
Aside from all this, the folks of Levenmouth must now hope and pray for the predicted huge boost in tourism for these parts of Scotland following the dedication of the Forth Bridge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Forth Road Bridge was blamed for a slump in revenue for Fife railways after its September 1964 opening, so it is hoped that the 1890 rail-bridge can be used to put that right.
This opportunity must not be missed. The bridge’s rise in popularity is sure to lead to an increase in rail-related tours and holidays to Fife.
There will be many who will want to combine a visit and crossing of the Forth Bridge with a tour of the region’s other great asset, the golf links of Fife and, to help them do this, the Levenmouth line would deliver them right to the heart of this rich golfing country and to every other wonderful place and thing that this area offers.
Alistair Aynscough. Colinsburgh, Leven.
Playing into terrorists’ hands
Sir, – Perhaps the EU’s reluctance to let go of Greece is more a defence and security than a fiscal matter.
Greece’s geographic location, close to Turkey, places it into a rather sensitive zone.
There may be certain countries, with little love for Europe and the USA, who are prepared to provide financial support to Greece, with strings attached, of course.
The ongoing Grand Old Duke of York game between Europe and Greece is playing into the hands of terrorist organisations which are busy consulting their own Pythias.
Kenneth Miln. 22 Fothringham Drive, Monifieth.
We owe old debt to Greek people
Sir, – Considering the vast amount of antiques which were taken from Greece in the past centuries , dare I say, stolen, should countries such as the United Kingdom now consider paying for these past misdeeds?
What price the Elgin Marbles?
Britain has 100,000 Greek treasures, Berlin has 60,000 and France 45,000 along with USA and Russia.
These artefacts surely must be worth a great part of what the Greeks are now being asked to pay.
John Ritchie. 131 Bridge Street, Montrose.
Bring on vote on EU membership
Sir, – Europe’s leaders are demanding that even EU countries not using the euro must contribute to the Greek bailout.
George Osborne defiantly told EU finance ministers that “the Eurozone needs to foot its own bill”.
Britain is not in the euro so the idea that British taxpayers should contribute an estimated £850,000 to the “rescue package” is totally unacceptable.
European Union officials said the European Commission would defy all objections and recommend providing the Greeks with finance using money from all states.
This attitude is dictatorial.
If the European Union “steals” British money to bail out a currency Britain refused to adopt then it will give a mighty boost to those who want to leave the EU. The referendum on membership of the EU cannot come quickly enough.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Betrayal of a neighbour
Sir, – Bank loans created by computer entries can be cancelled by computer entries, as the money never existed in the first place.
Thus the post-war German economic miracle was made possible by massive “debt” relief from the allies.
Having deliberately starved the Greek economy of money, to bring the country to its knees, the European Central Bank is now engaged on a €1.14 trillion programme of quantitative easing (printing money) in the Eurozone, a mere month of which would eliminate the money owed by Greece to the IMF.
Greece as a trading partner is worth this to the EU, whereas a bankrupt country is worth nothing and would be a perpetual liability for us all.
Thus, the viciousness of Germany, the ECB and the International Monetary Fund are exposed.
If this is an example of EU companionship and fairness, then we are indeed better off without it.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Currency solution
Sir, – The biggest fear for the eurozone was not a Grexit but the possibility of Greece setting up its own currency.
The Greek government could have issued currency in exchange for labour and got the economy moving.
Germany did this after speculators short-sold their currency and contributed to hyper-inflation during the Weimar Republic years.
Yet two years after Germany issued its own currency, free from the influence of the banks, it was an economic powerhouse.
It still had debts to pay but at least it had the means to pay them and it overcame international boycotts by trade barter arrangements. Something similar could have saved Greece.
Robert Anderson. Kirkton, Arbroath.
US should help Bhopal victims
Sir, – With reference to comments on the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster, let us reflect on the performance of American corporations in the face of environmental disasters.
In December 1984 at Bhopal, India, there was a disaster at the American owned Union Carbide Corporation plant.
Warren Anderson was chief executive officer at the time of the disaster when a faulty valve allowed methyl isocyanate and other chemicals to escape into the atmosphere where 500,000 people are exposed to this toxic substance.
Of course, the Americans tried to say it was caused by sabotage.
The initial death toll was 2,500 and the approximate final death toll is 16,000 people with thousands more with permanently disfiguring injuries.
Even in 2014, 150,000 people still struggle with the effects of the disaster.
The area surrounding Bhopal is still contaminated by the effects of the disaster.
The Indian government claimed $3.3 billion from the corporation. They were eventually paid $470 million.
It would be a humanitarian gesture on behalf of the American government to rethink their compensation and offer financial aid and a programme of help to the citizens of Bhopal by diverting a large share of the BP compensation payment.
David Barrowman. Donaldson Avenue, Westfield, Forfar.
Police force a political pawn
Sir, – Police Scotland is a shambles but do not blame officers or even Sir Stephen House.
The force was created by the SNP for political reasons – to make Scotland seem different.
The SNP want power devolved from London to Edinburgh but don’t want to share power with the rest of Scotland, hence centralised, police and fire. Will education be the next service centralised?
Robert Stark. Mill Street, Tillicoultry.