SIR – A recent letter in these pages asked the question “Why isn’t the Great Northern Trail opened in full from Cullingworth to Queensbury?”

The answer comes in several points. Firstly, in respect of people’s privacy, private land etc, and the fact that the section from Wilsden to Thornton is now extremely overgrown.

The cost of clearing it all out and the fact that there are five tunnels – one of which is 628 yards long at Well Heads – and the timber firm of Taylor’s at Denholme along the way make it difficult, along with the fact that the overgrown old track bed is very wet, and I think some sections are now filled in.

Possibly it could be opened up, but at what expense? Privacy is a precious commodity these days and needs some reasonable consideration.

Heavy earth works and now thickly-wooded stretches would make it very costly to open out. The reason is most probably cost as well as the effect it would have on people’s privacy. I would like to see it open, but with consideration to others.

The sad part of Bradford’s railway downfall came home of late when I took a walk over the old Spen Valley Railway from Low Moor to Thornhill. Lost, gone forever.

We mustn’t let Bradford’s railways fall any further into oblivion, cuts or no cuts. Let’s get Bradford back on the main line.

K Abbott, Roydwood Terrace, Cullingworth