Sir - The Office of the Rail Regulator has recently announced that Network Rail's scheme to expand capacity on the Oxford-Didcot line is "not needed to meet the requirements of the Department for Transport".

This £38m plan would give an extra platform south of Oxford station for London services, reduce line blocking by the shunting of empty trains and install extra loop lines for freight trains between Oxford and Didcot.

This goes hand in hand with improvements to rail capacity at Reading, and increasing bridge clearances to allow larger rail freight containers travelling between Southampton and the Midlands. Anyone who thinks that rail freight should not be better promoted in this way should understand the road traffic mayhem on the A34. For wide-ranging environmental reasons, our neglected rail capacity needs to be improved. It would be foolish to think otherwise. We hope the Office of the Rail Regulator will reconsider its views on this matter with some urgency.

David Eldridge, Secretary, Railfuture, Thames Valley Branch Berinsfield