TRAIN safety has become a real issue in Sussex following a series of sex attacks on passengers over recent weeks. Brighton Line Commuters have called for new security measures from Connex South Central including installing emergency communication cords in toilets where some of the attacks have taken place. Connex has already carried out some improvements including changing the layout on Coastway trains so that conductors can see down their entire length. But much depends on staff and it is good to know that Connex intends to increase the number of customer action teams on trains who will be able to cope with security and other problems. New trains are far more open and full of security features than many existing ones operated by Connex which are more than 30 years old. But the money for them can only be produced if Connex is offered a longer franchise than the present seven years.

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