Passengers were standing all the way from Brighton to Victoria on the 7.16 this Tuesday before the train even left the station.

There were 12 carriages with 36 seats reserved for "first class customers". In my experience the only first class customers are Network Rail employees with free seats as a perk of the job.

In the past, when we have had sensible guards on the train, they will de-classify first class, so that the majority of passengers can get a seat.

However, this morning, the jobsworth guard decided that because he was able to walk through the train, it was not crowded and kicked out the few people, including a pregnant woman, who dared to sit down in the first class compartment.

This cannot be right. As, in reality there are few real first class paying customers, Southern should give these seats on rush-hour trains back to the fare-paying majority.

It costs us £4,000 a year for the privilege of fighting for the few available seats.

Ken Paul
Marine Drive,
Brighton