IN a very supportive fashion you offered readers an insight into how the first phase of the diversion of the abandoned HS2 Northern Link funds would support and endorse Midlands rail links.

Marvellous news but somehow those directing this enormous financial ‘pot’ have apparently forgotten that there are other acutely-needed links to be rescued and one of our sorely-missed ideas would be to return the 144 bus service to link Worcester and Birmingham, as it did until Covid was used as the excuse to curtail it.

I find so many passengers on this reduced service who openly complain that the through route was so supportive of local communities and often the buses are quite full of passengers who would benefit from a through journey rather than get out and walk to a rail network.

The excuse used to curtail the through route was Covid - that excuse has long since disappeared - so why not return to the incredibly-useful through service?

Please respond positively and quickly!

Dr Malcolm Nixon

Worcester