IT WAS terrible to see how crowded Brighton Station was on Thursday night, especially during the heatwave.

Every commuter’s worst nightmare is a packed train, but it is even worse to not be on a train in the first place, stranded on a packed platform.

Those who take the train daily are a hardy bunch, but even the most patient rail user must be at the end of their tether now.

Delays and cancellations may be sadly regular at peak times, but at 8.30pm things should be running smoothly.

There was the excuse of the heat weakening the tracks, which might be forgivable due to the abnormal weather, but it just seems like one thing after another.

Too hot, too cold, leaves on the line. It is excuse after excuse.

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Look at the trains in countries such as Germany and France. They run on time and are far cheaper than here.

They also do not go to pot when a snowflake hits the track.

We should not expect terrible service and cancellations as a given. In Japan, a train company once had to apologise for leaving 12 seconds early.

That should be our attitude.

We must demand better from our rail services. Commuters deserve the peace of mind that their daily train will get them there on time.

It is not impossible, even in this country. The London Underground runs very reliably for the most part.

You can simply step on and step off a train and not worry about timings.

Frankly it is time rail companies clean up their act, or else the Government should take action.