Sussex train operators are among the worst when it comes to punctuality, according to figures released today.

More and more trains are arriving late while complaints about services are increasing.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) says one in seven journeys on trains operated by companies serving Sussex will be more than five minutes late.

One of the worst is the cross-London Thameslink service, which has seen the number of trains arriving within five minutes of their scheduled times fall by ten per cent.

The figures are for April to October 2001, compared with the same period last year.

South Central, which is owned by Govia and has operated in Sussex since August, has seen its figure fall by six per cent.

Shelley Atlas, of Brighton Line Commuters, said: "These figures are very worrying.

"Only last night we had a meeting with the bosses of South Central to express concerns.

"We hope this new company responsible for running the majority of services on the Brighton Line can meet its promises to improve the service and get more trains arriving on time."

Marsid Greenidge, spokesman for South Central, said: "We are new to this franchise and our plans for the future include improving punctuality."

Connex, which gave up its franchise to run the Brighton Line but still runs services from London to Hastings, is one of the few companies not to record a fall.

South West Trains - which runs trains out of Brighton to Reading via Chichester and Basingstoke - has seen the number of trains arriving late rise by 11 per cent.

The majority of South West Trains services are on heavily congested routes out of London Waterloo.

Virgin Cross Country, which operates out of Brighton to the North West and Scotland, with two trains a day, is the worst performer, with only one in four trains arriving within five minutes of the scheduled time.

The company operates some of the longest train journeys.

Gatwick Express, which in past years has been one of the most reliable operators, has seen its performance drop by six per cent.

Train companies had to pay poor performance penalties totalling £41.2 million, compared with £6.2 million in the equivalent period last year.