SIR, As a way of increasing seating capacity on a busy commuter train from Knaresborough into Leeds and providing a better quality service on the Leeds-Appleby-Kirkby Stephen-Carlisle line, a trial project was started 12 months ago.

This makes for an unusual train using two powerful British-built locomotives from the 1950s and refurbished coaches, likewise British-built, from the 1980s.

A quality service has been provided, with great views from the windows and seating arranged four seats around a table. Green Express Railtours provide leisure days out by direct train from local stations in the North.

From surveys we have found a third of the passengers we attract rarely use the train.

On board our trains we ensure there is plenty of information about exploring Britain by public transport; many of our passengers have gone on to use the 'unusual train' that runs during the week from Knaresborough to Carlisle.

With the franchise for operating trains both on the Harrogate line and Settle and Carlisle line due to change in October, what, one wonders, does the future hold for this unusual train, popular with both the commuter to Leeds and the leisure traveller to Westmorland, that has taken pressure off our congested roads and brought extra money into the local tourist economy of Westmorland?

Nick Harvey Proprietor, Green Express Railtours Huddersfield