Sir, – In 2015, Scotland hopes to re-open the long-ripped-up Carlisle-Edinburgh railway.

Re-built, professionally, with taxpayers’ money, I applaud the initiative and wish them well.

Compare that with Wensleydale’s line. Closed for the same reasons, it’s only hope is with volunteers, scrapping around for money, however small the donation is.

Yes, Wensleydale needs a rail line just as the borders do, for local travel, as bus cuts come in, and for our tourists, who provide our income. For many good reasons. So where is the help, from government, EU? Why are we being treated differently, as second class UK citizens?

There is no help except from local concerns. Indeed, Scottish members of the Wensleydale Railway branch in Edinburgh contribute more than Westminster. Shameful.

Network Rail would even charge us for a cup of tea.

Perhaps the real answer is for Yorkshire too to join Scotland and have a referendum on independence. Your reaction Mr Cameron; or even our MP?

Yes although I live abroad, I do belong to the Wensleydale Railway, as a member and shareholder, albeit a very small one, so I do want to see the line opened again, for Wensleydale.

I admit to a huge gratitude to those few, paid staff and the many, many volunteers who have the same dream, hope, as me.

Will it only be a dream or will our government finally wake up , and help? Your reply please, Mr. Cameron.

D TAYLOR-SMITH Algarve, Portugal.