work has begun to give Reading Rail station more platforms and passenger capacity. This huge project will be done in phases from now until 2016.

For several days this Christmas, First Great Western diverted all Paddington trains via Banbury to avoid works at Reading. Such diversions are likely to recur.

Fortunately Chiltern Railways aims to complete its Evergreen 3 link at Bicester by 2013. This will not only link Oxford with Marylebone and High Wycombe but give FGW a shorter, simpler diversion to Paddington for later phases of Reading’s redevelopment.

Colin Morris claims not all FGW trains are full, it is “complete rubbish” that FGW is saturated and all it needs is longer trains (Oxford Mail letters, December 23).

In fact peak trains have standing room only. Lengthening them cannot fulfil demand and Evergreen 3 is the cost-effective way to double London – Oxford rail capacity.

Colin claims Bicester Town and Water Eaton stations would be “white elephants for years to come”.

In fact Bicester Town could get more London trains than Bicester North.

Water Eaton would be the nearest station for hundreds of local employers, 20,000 Kidlington, Yarnton and Woodstock residents and 15,000 more in the northernmost wards of Oxford.

Colin claims to support East West Rail but not as a 90mph line. But East West Rail’s studies find it would be more cost-effective to rebuild the Oxford – Milton Keynes line for 100mph trains than 75mph ones. Railways need to be 90 or 100mph to beat road competition.

Hugh Jaeger, Media Officer, Railfuture Thames Valley Branch, Park Close, Oxford