Sir – Dr Martin Barnes (Letters, June 25) has me worried. It appears that there is mass hysteria in North Oxford in those who live near the tracks.

Apparently, there is no noise or vibration caused by moving trains, so it cannot possibly increase as nothing times something is always nothing. He is, of course, correct to say that welded rail has significantly reduced train noise, but it has not eliminated it.

So who is correct, one former “railwayman” or the people of North Oxford? Sorry, Dr Barnes, you are wrong and it is reassurances such as yours that persuade those in authority to think that there is no problem so nothing need be done.

Bob Adams
Oxford