The stunning level of congestion at Cribbs Causeway on Monday, December 22, illustrates how poorly served we are in Greater Bristol by public transport.

Look at a map and see just how close the freight railway through Filton and Henbury to Avonmouth passes the Cribbs Causeway development.

We are where we are, of course, but there is ample precedent for commercial developers to pay for local rail enhancements from the enormous increase in their land values.

The north Bristol freight line crosses under the A38 a short walk away from Filton College, where there would be significant custom for a regular train service.

The line skirts Filton airfield and should be diverted for a passenger service underground, below the runways, to the shopping centre. It also crosses the A4018 at Henbury where there would be scope for a park-and-ride.

At Avonmouth, the line joins the Severn Beach line, where it could combine to create a northern loop service: Temple Meads – Filton Abbey Wood – Filton College and Airport – Cribbs Causeway – Henbury Parkway – Avonmouth – Clifton – Montpelier – Lawrence Hill and on to Temple Meads.

Trains should continue through Temple Meads to Bedminster and up to Portishead, with a new station at Ashton Gate for the re-sited football stadium.

There is easily enough custom for this to make sense and take commuters' and shoppers' cars off the road. Combining this with the Portishead re-opening improves the financial case for each half of the service.

It's the people who work at Cribbs I feel sorry for whenever there are sales. Shoppers go there of their own accord, the workers have no choice.

Fancy having three hours added to your journey home time – it's completely uncivilised when the solution has been there for the asking.

Robert Harris Dursley