While wheelchair users get a mixed reception in town centres (The Argus, March 9), the railways are doing no better.

On privatisation, new franchise train operators ordered hundreds of new trains.

These have the special wheelchair compartments required on all public transport.

However, when the new trains came into service at Brighton Station, the direct coastway rail service across the city was axed.

This left hundreds of wheelchair passengers to cross eight platforms in order to change trains, drastically reducing wheelchair use on trains.

At Hove Station, wheelchair and baby buggy users and senior citizens are marooned from central Hove on the north side of the railway because Hove railway footbridge has neither the lifts nor the ramps now required by law.

Mainline station footbridges all have lifts.

The arch seen here in the north pier of the Hove station footbridge was intended for a lift but it was decided it was cheaper to provide about 50 steps.

-John Stanaway, Hove