I READ with interest 'Station talks to improve Malton'. I am pleased that officials have recognised the importance of a station and the village/town it is in. I do hope some good will come of this meeting between the rail authority, local transport, countryside agency.

I try to use the rail network as much as possible, including the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and feel that some time from a core group of local volunteers could improve Malton station no end. Maybe not to the high standard of Pickering, but heading that way. Malton was a very important station 40 years ago - goods yard, links to Whitby, Driffield, Helmsley - now it is just a through-station that does not pull passengers off the train.

Let us try to improve our local station with a lick of paint, tidy the embankment opposite the platform, install advert hoardings for local businesses and make Malton station a pleasure to wait on for that 'late' train.

To reflect, in Ryedale there had existed 16 stations. All have closed, apart from Malton and Pickering. I do not want to see Malton station bite the dust.

If anyone is interested in helping, please write to me so I can judge the feeling of those who use the station.

Updated: 11:36 Friday, March 09, 2001