A TRAIN company once ranked the worst in the country for customer satisfaction wants ideas for improvements from passengers.

Southern Railway is looking for new members for its customer cabinet.

The forum, formerly known as the Southern Stakeholder Advisory Board, is a chance for regular passengers travelling across the network on Southern and Gatwick Express trains to share practical ideas for improvements with staff.

Last month Thameslink was rated the worst in the country for customer satisfaction, with 73 per cent of customers happy with the service, and Southern Rail came third from bottom with 78 per cent. Nationally 83 per cent of customers were satisfied.

Transport Focus questioned more than 28,000 passengers as part of the National Rail Passenger Survey - the largest published rail passenger satisfaction survey in the world.

Southern's satisfaction had improved since it was previously ranked the worst a year before with 72 per cent of customers satisfied while Thameslink's fell from 74 per cent.

The advisory board was formed so the company could get a better understanding of customers and raise any problems encountered by employees.

The voluntary membership will allow passengers the chance to get their voices heard by senior managers and provide feedback. Made up of seven passengers to represent a broad range of customers with two staff, members have the chance to work on their own projects with a budget and advise on company strategies.

The company's passenger service directors David Scorey, Alex Foulds and Angie Doll take turns to act as chairman.

Current passengers involved in the forum include Steven Dinnage, of Falmer, Neil Bull, of Hove, David Wakefield, who lives near Eastbourne, and Fiona Bower, who uses the train to get to Eastbourne and Brighton, as well as Southern staff member Kevin Bayley, who is based in Chichester, and head of communications Jane Lee.

The volunteer will need to attend an evening meeting once every two months.

The deadline for applications is 5pm tomorrow. To apply visit southernrailway.com/southern/southern-customer-cabinet.