JAMES B. Mason is surely right that Metrolink passengers would prefer to see porters, booking clerks and other staff on the stations, guards on the trams and signalmen for the control and safety of rolling stock (Your Letters, Dec 21).

This doesn't happen because the Metrolink system is run on a shoestring in order to keep costs to a minimum.

I must declare an interest here. Although now retired from the railway industry, I worked on Radcliffe station until the end of the British Rail tenure in August 1991.

Travelling on the Metrolink trams in the rush-hour periods is now similar to travelling on the London "Tube," with all seats taken and passengers standing in every available space. Passengers wishing to alight at intermediate stations often have to fight their way through a crowd of people to leave the tram.

One can only pray that there is never any kind of mishap on Metrolink during the rush-hour because, if there is, we are looking at a potential Hatfield or Paddington.

Radcliffe commuters will recall that it was nearly always possible to get a seat on the "old" BR electrics and to read their newspaper in comfort. Metrolink commuters sit hunched up like battery hens, that is if they can even get a seat! Mr Mason also states that fares may have to rise to pay for more staff but, in fact, it was recently disclosed that Metrolink fares are already the highest in Europe for this form of transport. So finance should already be available to employ more staff.

Considering the conditions that Metrolink commuters have to face on a daily basis, and the shambles that has been made of the national rail system, perhaps "old-fashioned" BR were not that bad after all!

T. P. GOODWIN,

Lynton Lee,

Radcliffe.