The Echo (June 29) quotes National Express as saying £200m will be spent to upgrade the Liverpool Street line overhead cabling and mentions 50-60 years as a factor for the most recent failures.
The first electric train to run on the c2c line was on June 1, 1961, also over 50 years ago.
Can it be that the problem is that of the very heavy cabling being much more susceptible to excess heat than the much lighter system of the c2c, which during its inception was criticised for its flimsy construction?
It was argued at the time it would be much cheaper in the long term to have spent a little more to obtain a more substantial system similar to that of the Liverpool Street line.
It would seem the LT&S were right after all.
W H Diment
Church Road
Laindon
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here