When will our wonderful railway operators stop these ghastly new trains masquerading as mobile saunas?

I only get fried between Brighton and Lewes so my heart goes out to commuters to London.

I understand there are a few windows which can be opened with a key by the (normally invisible) conductor/guard. Why is this not done at the start of the journey?

As for the seats, they must have been designed by a legless midget.

On Saturday, the mid-afternoon sauna from Lewes to Brighton was 17 minutes late and crawled back to Brighton without stopping anywhere.

Needless to say, at the first hint of trouble, all station staff disappear faster than a terrier down a rabbit hole.

I travelled frequently from London to Plymouth, initially by steam then diesel. Even floodwater submerging the tracks to a depth of at least six inches failed to stop the train arriving.

It may have been a bit late but there was a great rapport between travellers and staff, who kept us informed. The driver was often shaken by the hand and given a small present.

Staff today regard it as just a job and don't give a damn about their passengers.

I wouldn't trust our present lot to run a Hornby model railway.

-Tony Booker, Brighton