The handover of most Sussex train services to a new operator has been delayed.

Govia was expected to take over from Connex on July 22, running trains in and out of Victoria and London Bridge and along the Sussex coast.

But bureaucrats in Brussels and London have now forced a postponement because of competition rules.

Govia and Connex had been working towards the agreed date of July 22 after Govia paid more than £30 million to take over two years ahead of schedule.

But the European Union and the UK Office of Fair Trading are taking another look at the deal.

Transport giant Govia is the parent company of the other main Sussex train operator, Thameslink.

It plans to run the existing Connex South Central routes as the New Southern Railway, a sister company to Thameslink.

Martin Walter, head of media relations for the New Southern Railway, said today: "The European Union and the Office of Fair Trading want to have a another look at the deal. There is nothing wrong, but it will mean we will not be taking over on July 22 as planned, and it will a little longer before we are in charge.

"This is nothing to do with Govia or Connex. The matter is out of our hands. It is rather frustrating. It is just a bit of bureaucracy. We hope to be in a position to make a announcement of the date of the changeover in the middle of next week."

Govia had wanted to be in control of the franchise, including the Brighton Line, routes through Horsham and services along the coast to Portsmouth and Hastings, by the end of July.

Connex, which has run the South Central routes since summer 1996, was scheduled to keep running the franchise until May 2003.

Govia has spent the months since it won the 20-year franchise, in October, planning an early takeover.

Connex had been criticised by commuters, politicians, and people in the rail industry for failing to come up to expectations in running one of the most-used commuter lines in and out of London.

Three rail companies who run trains in Sussex were today ordered to cut overcrowding on their rush-hour services.

Thameslink, Connex South Central and South West Trains were told by the Strategic Rail Authority to prepare urgent action plans to beat the problem.

They were among five commuter train companies found to be in breach of overcrowding regulations following surveys conducted late last year and early this year.

The other two were Silverlink, which runs services north of London, and First Great Eastern, which operates out of Liverpool Street.

SRA chief executive Mike Grant today said the figures showed the need for train operators to increase capacity.

Thameslink, Connex South Central and South West Trains all have new stock on order and pledged to reduce overcrowding by running longer trains.

The survey covered ten train companies which run commuter services into London.

The worst-performing company in the survey was Silverlink, with South West Trains and Connex South Central placed next.

Dave Ewart of Connex said: "We have experienced an upturn in commuter traffic "The period during which the surveys were taken included late autumn, when we had the problems of adverse weather conditions and the aftermath of the Hatfield derailment when speed restrictions were in force."