I REFER to Leo Enticknap's letter concerning GNER (Rail competition is great news, July 14).

Whenever I have travelled to and from London on GNER trains, I have had a comfortable, fast journey, almost always punctual.

Refreshments are served from a trolley brought to your seat, as well as being available in the buffet coach.

If you don't wish to overhear other people's mobile phone conversations, you can sit in the "quiet" coach, where phones should not be used.

There are plenty of trains, about two in every hour throughout the day, more in the early morning. I do not know of anyone who has the sort of complaints Mr Enticknap mentions.

I wonder if Mr Enticknap has ever travelled on the so-called TransPennine Express.

It is scheduled to take about two hours from York to Manchester Airport. It frequently turns its passengers out at Manchester Piccadilly, and they then have to find their way to another train to get to the airport.

On one occasion when I was travelling on it, it managed to lose an hour on the way, then passengers going to the airport had to change trains at Piccadilly. I am sure that many must have missed their planes. No apologies or explanations were given.

Perhaps before welcoming competition on the East Coast Main Line, we should wait to see how efficient the competition is.

If only we still had British Rail.

P A Crowson, York Road, Haxby, York.