I WRITE with regards to John Grogan’s proposal for a Boxing Day train service – Lack of Boxing Day trains has been criticised (December 25). Were you yourself working Boxing Day, Mr Grogan?

Why, as the prospective MP for Keighley, would you want to actively encourage local people to leave their local economy and spend their money elsewhere? Do you not support local business?

You would also probably find people will say they would like the option of a train service on Boxing Day, but how many people would actually use it?

As we saw with the troubles in and out of London King’s Cross recently with over-running engineering works, Network Rail often undertakes major works during the Christmas period when it can take over the railway for 48 hours without bothering many people. Having a Boxing Day service would only serve to move these works to another time of the year when lots of people would be affected.

The majority of railway staff provide a service for all but two days a year. Two days in which they are guaranteed to have the time to spend with their families and loved ones. Rail staff are on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week, often working unsocial hours. It is more than just a matter of bringing in a few guards and drivers to operate the service. There would have to be the train crew, yes, but then for them to be able to work you will need a fully-staffed control centre for both Northern Rail and Network Rail, station staff to open the booking offices, signal-men, maintenance staff at depots, cleaners and many more! To me it would be an absolute waste of time running a taxpayer-subsidised service for a handful of passengers.

If a Boxing Day train service does eventually operate, I would expect to see Mr Grogan on the first train and getting off the last!

I would also like to ask Mr Grogan why he failed to notify us of their being no bus service on New Year’s Day and how unacceptable that is!

Chris Haley Ingrow