Sir.-So now the cat is out of the bag in respect of the recently-introduced South West Trains timetable from December 12.

It would appear it was all about making sure the company was not fined as much as it was before because it was unable to run trains on time.

I understand the 15 per cent increase in performance is solely due to the fact that, on practically every line, there is now so much free time at every single station that trains can't but run on time.

That may be good news for the company, but it's certainly poor news for commuters who now spend so much more of their lives on the train for the benefit of the rail company.

The "dwell times" for interchange stations such as Brookwood, Ash Vale, West Byfleet - at two minutes or more - and four or five minutes at Woking are also expected to "add to the benefits".

No sense seems to be pervaded at this time with regard to what passengers want - a speedy and a reliable service.

The age of the train has turned in to be the age of the stale!

-Mike Roberts, environment spokesman, Hampshire County Council Labour Group.