Your reporter Julian Hills gives a euphoric picture of the future of Thameslink 2000 for Barnet commuters (Passengers play the waiting game', Times Group, January 11).

The reality is likely to be somewhat different. From the details published for the consultation and public enquiry it is most probable that there will be no significant improvement in either service pattern or train capacity of Metro service customers.

The projected service will be four trains per hour around the Sutton Loop and, to replace trains presently starting at Moorgate, trains from Sevenoaks via Catford will be extended to St Albans half hourly in the peak.

None of the stations at which any of these trains call south of the river will be extended to take trains longer than the present eight cars and north of the river, Kentish Town, Cricklewood and Hendon stations will also not be able to take the longer length trains.

Bearing in mind that Thameslink Metro services are the most overcrowded, principally because there are less of them than the outer suburban City Flier services, the priority should be to lengthen the Metro services first. Regarding the present West Anglia Great Northern lines the story is much worse.

The new cross London services will not serve any station between Finsbury Park and Potters Bar or any station on the Hertford Loop line so that major suburbs such as Barnet and Enfield will not have the benefits of new trains.

All these places will continue to have the same Moorgate shuttle service as they do at the moment.

Keith Dyall

Chairman, Railway Development Society

London & Southeast Branch