TRAIN SERVICES: I WAS pleased to see that you reported (Echo, Aug 16) on Arriva Trains Northern's focus to further improve customer service with the creation of customer action teams.

However, I was disappointed to see that the article centred heavily around issues that affected the business well over a year ago.

I also note that it referred to the Transport Select Committee Report Railways in the North of England, which was based on meetings and evidence given to the committee over 12 months ago, and is therefore not a reflection of the current level of service Arriva Trains Northern is providing for its customers.

Within the report it referred to a driver shortage, which was actually resolved over a year ago. The issue was inherited from the previous operators and Arriva took action quickly to resolve it.

During this time Arriva Trains Northern worked hard to ensure its customers were kept informed and the company met the promises it made to recruit more drivers and operate a robust, full timetable.

Over the past 12 months Arriva Trains Northern's services have improved significantly. Indeed, the Strategic Rail Authority's latest report shows that, out of the four train companies operating in the North-East of England, Arriva Trains Northern was the highest performer.

Our employees have worked very hard to bring improvements to local rail services and we have left those problems mentioned in the article where they belong - firmly in the past. - Ray Price, Managing Director, Arriva Trains Northern Ltd, York.

IRAQ

THE Hutton inquiry may show what drove Dr David Kelly to kill himself, but it will flounder on the sand of semantics as far as the war in Iraq is concerned.

I have said it before and I will say it again, the decision to go to war was taken by Mr Bush and Mr Blair long before March 21, 2003.

This puerile discussion over dossiers is a lot of garbage - Mr Blair was going to let nothing stand in his way to deliver our country into the hands of Mr Bush and his warmongering pals.

In Afghanistan as well as Iraq, we have left a trail of death and destruction.

Not only that, we have inflamed anti-American and anti-British feelings to new and dangerous levels.

It is time to get out and lose no more of our lads. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

EDUCATION

THE argument about whether or not A-level exams have been dumbed down is set to rage again (Echo, Aug 14).

Anyone who is following the excellent TV series, That'll Teach 'Em, will know by the pupils' own admission that the old-style exams they have tried are very much tougher than those set today.

The root of the trouble as far as maths and English are concerned is, in maths, children now rely very heavily on calculators to do most of the reckoning and, in English, teaching of spelling, punctuation and grammar, along with other basics, are now much neglected or not taught at all.

The study of 'soft' subjects has proliferated at the expense of the more recognised academic subjects. Perhaps the answer lies in dividing the different types of subjects into two groups, the 'soft' and the academic, then both sides of the argument would be satisfied, especially if the academic subjects were beefed up to be closer to the standard A-level used to represent. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

COUNCIL ALLOWANCES

IT might be worth remembering that two Labour councillors spoke out publicly against the rise in allowances given to Durham County councillors.

Both were quoted in the Press at the same time and both gave the same reasons why they would not accept the rise.

What I cannot understand, therefore, is why has Councillor Trippet from Trimdon been suspended when Councillor Graham from Coundon has not.

From what I gather, both councillors took the same stance in refusing their rise and are both now giving the money to community causes. So why is one being treated differently than the other?

I say congratulations to both men for putting people in their communities before money. They have restored my faith in local government and are a credit to County Durham. - B Bates, Shildon.

IDENTITY CARDS

THE time is surely coming when British people will be required to carry identification cards to combat the number of illegal immigrants getting past immigration control and into our overcrowded country. The do-gooders will bleat endlessly at this, but my estimate is that 100,000 are entering Britain per year. Too many. - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

SPEED CAMERAS

THERE are millions of speed signs with '30' written on them but they do not have a picture of a camera or words 'Speed Cameras' written on them.

So one suspects that the two policemen who broke the speed limit also knew that they were breaking the law.

How often do policemen find ways to dodge and break laws that they are supposed to uphold?

If the police knew that these camera signs were illegal, why did they keep prosecuting innocent drivers? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.