It is good to read that commuters are going to get a reduction in the cost of their South Central Rail season tickets as compensation for bad service (The Argus, Dec 15).

However, it is grossly unfair that off-peak rail users are going to suffer yet another above-inflation increase in the cost of their tickets.

True, they don't have to suffer the overcrowding but their trains are late, cancelled and subject to the same delays as the commuter trains.

In addition, they have to travel on the same dirty trains, often with locked toilets because nobody bothers to top up the water tanks.

There has been no improvement since South Central took over - in fact, things have got worse.

The company hasn't even bothered to spruce-up the trains and stations in a show of intention, which at least Connex did when it obtained the franchise.

This is hardly surprising because it is largely the same staff, many of whom have been around since BR days and perpetuate the same attitudes.

People will only put up with so much. Commuters have little choice but off-peak travellers may decide to vote with their feet and use other means of travel.

A lot of the blame for poor service is being laid at the feet of Railtrack but, when you travel with other operating companies, subject to the same Railtrack problems, you frequently get a much better service.

-Alfred Newman, Underdown Road, Southwick