Wasteful rail link

THE proposed high-speed rail link between Scotland and England (your report, 12 March) would be extremely costly and damaging to our countryside and our environment.

It would also be needlessly wasteful, given that we already have two excellent rail links to England, which at most are in need of new rolling stock and a modest upgrade to 140mph.

Even if this ambitious project could be brought in on budget (which is highly doubtful), there are more pressing and mundane transport needs within the UK.

In the case of Scotland, what is required is not so much improved links to England as improved links within its borders, between the six main Scottish cities.

Only in this way will the Scottish economy and workforce be able to work as a single cohesive entity, rather than three or four disparate and remote business and industrial centres.

But then again, I realise that Scotland doesn't end at Glasgow and Edinburgh, and has different needs to the rest of the UK.

MARK CAMPBELL-RODDIS

Pont Crescent

Dunblane