I sympathise with Stuart Nicholls (Letters, October 20). The fundamental problem about running longer trains from the West Coastway line to the East Coastway line and vice versa is the track layout at Brighton station.

Only platform three can handle this through running.

If Mr Nicholls looks at the track on this platform, he will see the points that control the trains to and from the Worthing direction are positioned only one-third of the way along the platform.

Thus the maximum length of a train which can be accommodated in the southern end of the platform is four coaches.

The real answer to this problem is to provide an underground loop from the east to the west, with a centre island platform beneath the main concourse and an escalator connection.

This provision with the reinstatement of the track between Polegate and Stone Cross and the doubling of the track between Ore and Ashford International would facilitate access to the Channel Tunnel from Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton.

-Peter E H Bailey, Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton