DURING my 25 years in the wonderful Furness area I have seen some much-needed improvements in the road infrastructure and great improvements in digital communications.

I contrast that with the inadequate rail service we now get with ancient rolling stock from Northern.

I am writing this sitting in a railway carriage borrowed from Direct Rail Services which is 50 years old and has the old slam doors which, on my carriage, were stuck and had to be forced open by me.

Why is it that in our area, with the most sophisticated engineering and pharmaceutical companies, we have to put up with clapped-out, old rolling stock at the same time as the government proposes spending more than £60bn on HS2 to allow people to get to London 20 minutes quicker from Birmingham?

Why do we all put up with it?

HARRY KNOWLES

Woodland Road, Ulverston