THE proposal for a fixed link between Ireland and Scotland ("Road link between Scotland and Ireland branded a bridge too far", The Herald, January 23 and Letters, January 24) has me recall reading some time ago of around three proposals in the 1890s for a railway tunnel under the North Channel. Descending under the sea from, presumably, the Portpatrick area they would emerge in the vicinity of Whiteford or Donaghadee. All had a flavour of Jules Verne about them in concept and design. A channel bridge was also mooted but with less detail of what was intended, but all the above sank without trace as I might put it.

At this time there also existed in the realms of fantasy it must be said to build what was referred to as a "solid" causeway between the Mull of Kintyre and Northern Ireland. Again for a railway link this would emerge off the West Highland line at Arrochar and Tarbet and continue down the eastern side of Kintyre to the causeway and join with rail lines to Larne and Ballymoney.

How this causeway would have been practical in any sense is beyond my comprehension. I rather think that the esteemed engineers of the Victorian age had "run out of steam" for anything remotely feasible.

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John Macnab,

175 Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, Falkirk.

PROFESSOR Alan Dunlop has confirmed the practicalities of a North Channel fixed link between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Such a venture can only lead to more UK trade and interchange. A Celtic powerhouse in addition to a northern powerhouse will create a more balanced UK economy and reduced overcrowding in the south-east of England.

The borders area of Scotland will also benefit as direct freight and passenger trains from Belfast to London and continental Europe will necessitate the reinstatement of the Dumfries-Stranraer line.

John Barstow,

St Cleer, The Fleet, Fittleworth, Pulborough, West Sussex.