Following John Stanaway's letter (Letters, November 15), it seems the principal blame lies as much with the rail franchise department, more perhaps than with the actual railway companies themselves for reduction of rail services.

It is these civil servants who are the "culprits' when it comes to deciding where trains run to and from.

It is they who seemingly perceive Brighton and parts of Sussex as London suburbs and pay no heed to the fact that there are destinations other than London terminals.

It is the franchise department that decided that the Reading/Basingstoke to Brighton service should be withdrawn from the SWT franchise and it is they who have decided that Brighton and Gatwick be removed from the cross country franchise from December next year.

Of course, the railway companies are not entirely blameless. I presume Southern could have stepped in and opted to continue the Brighton to Reading link and I understand that, had Virgin not been unsuccessful in retaining the cross country franchise, they would have maintained a service to Gatwick and Brighton. (The successful bidder, Arriva, has chosen not to do so.)

I know that Brighton's two MPs have made representations regarding the cross country services, especially with the point that a number of less able-bodied people will now have to find alternative means to cross London, and I hope they will continue to do so. But in the end it appears the collective "we" have no choice but to bow to those who apparently know better.

  • David Cole, Queen's Park Road, Brighton