Many rail passengers will have raised a silent cheer after reading about Simon Taylor's protest in which he parked his car on Berwick level crossing, thereby delaying a train for six minutes (The Argus, June 18).

Having also listened to Mr Taylor being interviewed on BBC Southern Counties Radio, it seems to me that much of his anger was due to poor communication by South Central (now Southern).

Being shouted at from the opposite platform would antagonise anyone.

Your report did not say whether or not the train operating company explained why it used a train which was too long for these short platforms nor what type of train it was.

I understand the new Electrostars have automatic doors which, at present, do not permit the guard to release only some of the doors for operation by the passengers so there would be a risk of them stepping out on to a drop of several feet close to the live rail.

In times past, passengers were advised to travel in the first few coaches of the old slam-door stock if they wished to alight at stations with short platforms.

I imagine with the health and safety regulations that seem to rule our lives these days this practice is no longer permitted.

If he is a regular traveller, I cannot believe how naive Mr Taylor is about railways.

In mitigation he pleaded that the delay of six minutes could be made up by the train not stopping at the short platform stations.

Does he not know that every train has a path calculated for it? In this case his train would have been due to run through Southerham Junction at a specific time to avoid conflicting with trains to and from Seaford.

Similarly, his train would be timed to arrive at Lewes at a time which did not impede trains from Brighton.

Again, to avoid delaying trains on the very busy Brighton main line, it would need to pass through Keymer Junction on time. I think he was lucky not to be ordered to pay Network Rail's full fine of £1,272.

There are lessons to be learned on both sides from this case.

-Peter Bailey, Brighton