With the London 2012 Olympic Games looming the Government wants the franchise that takes over services in East Anglia in 2012 from National Express to deliver top quality service.

They have even issued strict objectives that each bidder must provide, making it crystal clear that they want to control operational costs and maximise revenue as well as providing a more frequent service to support the Games.

Yet David Briggs, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users’ Association seems enraged by these emplaced targets and has branded these guidelines as “a load of waffle”.

“This is the least of what we would expect,” he said. “We want a vastly improved service before the Olympics and want the platforms at Braintree Freeport and Cressing lengthened from eight carriages to 12. These objectives are unacceptable.”

Surely the Government and the chosen bidder will be able to come to some arrangement? They both have the same goal; to ensure transport for the Olympics is a success.

Therefore Briggs should not be so concerned with government proposals or objectives. Because unless they want to be blamed for increased transport delays and cancellations during the most eagerly anticipated sporting events Britain has hosted in decades, both organisations must and will cooperate with one another to win Gold next year.