The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has come up with a plan to improve the train service between Brighton and London Victoria.

The only snag being that Brighton will lose the direct service to Watford - a service which enables travellers to reach the Midlands, the North and Scotland without having to make a journey across London to change stations.

For older people with luggage and for those with mobility problems, the platform change at Watford is easy as there are public lifts for all platforms.

The SRA is proposing to stop the service at Clapham Junction, where a cross-platform change can mean negotiating between 28 and 40 steps at a busy interchange station.

The Brighton and Hove Older People's Council (OPC) has been fighting this decision since an earlier letter in The Argus resulted in a large number of letters and phone calls expressing concern.

The OPC asked the SRA for a meeting to discuss the proposal but it was refused. All key planning authorities have been contacted.

The London Transport Users Committee now supports our stand and Brighton and Hove City Council, which did not oppose the change, has now written to the SRA indicating further thought is needed.

We and the London Transport Users Committee feel the service should at least continue to Gatwick Airport, where lifts serve all platforms.

The OPC has now learnt the proposals are with the Minister of Transport. May I suggest all who are concerned at the Clapham Junction termination should write to their MP asking them to contact the Minister stressing the need to maintain the Watford/Brighton service.

Bob Gunnell, vice chairman

-Brighton and Hove Older People's Council