I WELCOME Andy Burnham's drive to get a fully integrated and efficient transport system.

On Friday, I set out to show my sister and brother-in-law that it was more efficient to travel from Bolton to the Manchester Palace Theatre by train. There would be no parking costs and no petrol costs as we all have transport passes.

The 18.14pm train we were aiming for was reported delayed somewhere around Chorley.

This meant that we would have to await the 18.19pm arriving. Since all those who would have caught the 18.14 were now catching the 18.19, the train was packed like sardines with many of us having to make the journey standing.

Then, just when about to pull into Oxford Road, the train stopped for about 15 minutes with no explanation as to what was going on. Fortunately, we just made it in time for the show.

On return, we were due to catch the 22.41pm train. There would be another at 22.50pm and yet another at 22.53pm. The 22.41pm display kept increasing minute by minute until this too was approximately 15 minutes late.

By now the platform was jammed with all those that would have otherwise been on the other trains.

Once again we were packed to the rafters.

Somehow, I feel that my sister and brother-in-law are not fully convinced.

Roy Caswell

Beverley Road

Bolton