WHENEVER a round of fare increases is announced by the rail companies the talk is always of the extra revenue being needed for capital projects and to improve the infrastructure of the railway system.

This was the chant taken up recently when fare increases of between six and 11 per cent were proposed.

Living in Billingham made me consider what rail infrastructure we have available to us. Our station, opened in the late 1960s, is only accessible by using a steep footbridge. This rules out any use by disabled people and is also difficult for the elderly and infirm to gain access.

So when you have struggled onto the station platform, what facilities are there for the train user? They boil down to a brick lean-to, which doubles as an outside toilet.

I can only wonder for how long this disgraceful state of affairs will be allowed to go on and how much of the latest fares increase will be used to improve matters in Billingham?

Martin Birtle, Billingham.