The article "Executive mugged on night train" (The Argus, December 7) brought to mind the South East Region Rail Passengers' Committee meeting at Maidstone.

A committee member proposed an AA-type railway emergency service to speedily locate and rescue travellers on isolated, broken-down franchise trains. (Trains seem to break down more often since privatisation.)

This would also prevent passengers endangering themselves by jumping off trains during long break-downs, as recently happened near Preston Park station, Brighton.

A passenger asked: "What about the Railway Police?" This received a glossed-over response, presumably because any expansion of the Transport Police would cost and this was on the franchise train operators' minds.

Also mentioned was the passengers' emergency cord for stopping trains.

It seems if a passenger pulls the cord while the train is between stations the train may continue to the next station.

It seems, also for cost-cutting, train guards were reduced but now profits are paramount again, they are back in force on trains checking tickets.

Even night buses are increasingly using security guards or police. Remember the clippies?

-John Stanaway, Lorna Road, Hove