Having read the headline story in the Bolton News regarding the additional platform at Trinity Street railway station I am minded to write on a number of points.

The story of the additional platform is old hat. Network Rail first published the concept of an additional platform many years ago in its North West Route Utilisation Strategy.

It is important that readers understand that the platform “needing funding” is already there. After closure some years ago when Trinity Street was rationalised platform four as it was, was not destroyed. Indeed the canopies over platform four (now to become five) were repaired only recently.

The new platform five can be swept with a sweeping brush, track can be laid, introduce simple signalling and there you have it.

Network Rail is famous for needing funding when no funding is needed. Bolton railway station sorely needs car parking. The new bus station over the skywalk could easily accommodate it when the railway lines for the new platform five are brought into use.

Platform five will be of good use if trains are increased in number.

Network Rail ought to know that platform three (now platform four) is capable of accommodating 20 coach-length trains. The platforms at Trinity Street were designed for 20 coach trains back in 1897 and it is a tribute to Mr Liddle (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) that we have so little to do to accommodate the forecasted extra trains from the new December timetable.

The station is not very busy compared with the 1950s when goods trains also added to the traffic. The expected expansion of passenger trains will still not equal that. A major set of works should be starting in Spring 2015 which will seriously delay passengers between Bolton and Salford Crescent.

The work in connection with the North West Electrification Programme is the installation of the overhead equipment in one of the tunnels at Farnworth and will involve expanding the “up” Manchester bound bore at Farnworth so that two railway lines can proceed through the single bore when enlarged and electrified. This work will start next Easter and involve almost a six-month closure. There will be a limited weekdays only bi-directional passenger service.

David Spencer Brierholme Avenue Egerton