If a slower journey is preferred, then travelling to Poznan via Kostrzyn and Krzyz is to be recommended. The latter will be a fine introduction to what Polish Railways are really like.L J ATTERBURYSZYDLOWO, POLAND Frustrated cyclist Sir: On Sunday I tried to travel by train from Wakefield to York with my bicycle, only to fall foul of the 24-hour rule: bikes have to be booked onto trains 24 hours in advance, and the day before I didn't know the journey would be necessary. In future I shall do my bit to clog up the roads and assist in adding to pollution by reluctantly using my car.IAN CHARLTONWAKEFIELD WEST YORKSHIRE A British invention Sir: Barrie Clement reports from Shanghai that the original idea of the Maglev trains is "said to be British" (Could Maglev trains be the far-sighted solution?" 6 June). Indeed I suspect parenting classes are going to be most needed when the children are subject to few other influences.KAREN REVANSBRIDGWATER, SOMERSET The train to Poznan Sir: Marian Podlubny (letter, 6 June) was ill-advised to buy a cheap flight to Warsaw in order to get to Poznan.
The best bet is a cheap flight to Berlin and then to travel on the Euro-City Express to Poznan. How does this fit with your campaign for more representative voting systems?DAN WILSONBRUSSELS, BELGIUM Badly behaved children Sir: I can assure Angela Elliott (letter, 2 June) that in my experience as a teacher the vast majority of badly ill-disciplined children come from workless homes and indeed the continuing presence of a mother at home does not seem to produce better adjusted or higher achieving children. Labour will not be in power for ever and if the progressive vote gets divided then the Tories will still have the platform in terms of seats to get back into power by default. If Blair really cared for the people Labour claims to represent then he would embrace a more representative voting system that would help keep out a future right-wing government.ALAN J FISHERFINSTOCK, OXFORDSHIRESir: Of those who voted in the French referendum 45 per cent were in favour of the constitution.
In your reports on the outcome, you described it as a "resounding" defeat for the "Yes" camp. It is time the Prime Minister kept his 1997 manifesto pledge on this issue. I fully support your fine Campaign for Democracy, but I suspect it would take the backing of more of the media to force Mr Blair into action. Tony Blair's claim that there is no public appetite for electoral reform defies credibility and speaks volumes about his arrogance.
