Largs man Archie Burleigh believes fresh investment is necessary on our railway line to prevent more extensive cancellations as has been experienced this winter.

Writing a letter in this week's paper, Mr Burleigh stated: "The real problem is the weather and 'Joe Public' has to understand this. There is no point in running trains along the Saltcoats seaside track section if there is a real likelihood of another Tay Bridge type of disaster.

"Electrically operated trains require a great deal more sophisticated equipment to maintain the service and as such even after the storm has abated the track, signaling and overhead functions need to be visually checked before any trains can resume the service. As a stop gap, Transport Scotland could arrange for one of the old Sprinter diesel sets to be based in Largs during the winter months. With this provision, in the event of severe storms affecting the electric sets, a shuttle service could be run as far as Ardrossan South-Beach or Saltcoats with a shuttle bus from there to Stevenson. At least then the journey would seem less of a chore.

In terms of the future survival of the railway along the Three Towns coast from the start of the B780 at Saltcoats past Sandylands: only the strength and durability of the existing seawall being able to cope with the severe storms and ever rising sea levels will determine this. A 'no brainer' indeed. It is now time for our local MSP's to lobby the new Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Cabinet Secretary, Keith Brown, to get the railway line south east of Saltcoats diverted east of the Sandylands Caravan site along the south side of Saltcoats Road or through the Auchenharvie Golf Club over to Stevenson. I am sure there will be the usual furore about changes to the local landscape but just think of the potential for a new links course in North Ayrshire to trump the one down the coast at Girvan.