Far from being disappointed at the thought of another year's service from the old faithful slam-door trains, I am overjoyed.

The new monsters are a classic case of flash over function. As for them being safer than the old, I fail to see how.

As has been proven in accidents, if the driver gets killed, people cannot open the doors resulting in panic and deaths, particularly where fire is present.

Neither can anyone escape through the windows, which are also sealed. In the old trains, windows could be opened both for fresh air, which I prefer to stale "air conditioning", and as an escape route.

Also, there were plenty of doors to get out of.

I find the old seats infinitely more comfortable and attractive than the hard ones in the new carriages.

I also find the interior space and luggage facilities better in the slam-door carriages, while the new utilitarian interiors look cheap and are restrictive.

Finally, to those who say you can fall out of the doors, if the double-lock doors are properly closed to start with, I defy anyone to show me how these doors can come open on their own.

Regrettably, it's far easier to blame the railways than to admit to stupidity but if we need protection by others against our own errors or risk-taking, such as opening doors before the train has stopped, then heaven help us.

Harold Parkin

-Heathfield