I travel the country using railways and I am still yet to find a major rail service that is as antiquated as the service from Brighton to London Bridge and the City of London. The First Capital Connect trains that run this route are a step above the dirty and unreliable trains that operated under the old Thameslink rail franchise, but they are still a long way behind the standard that many other train operators adhere to.

The modern traveller or commuter needs tables, plug sockets, air-conditioning and a comfortable travelling environment that does not involve doors that rattle with age or the noise that comes from opening every single window to calm the sweltering heat on board in summer.

A significant number of people in Brighton use the trains regularly to work in London. Efficient access to London, in particular the City, is a vital artery for a large number of small and medium businesses who create jobs and pay taxes in Brighton.

More graduates stay in Brighton after they finish studying than any other UK city – it is part of what makes the city so fresh and dynamic – but the reality is many of them will be looking to work in London while living here.

Whoever awards this rail franchise needs to realise that rail travel can have huge economic and social benefits for our city, and if rail franchises are going to be delivered by the private sector rather than as a public good, then the economic and social gains created by selecting an operator who can provide the service to a modern standard must be fundamental to the decision making process.

Mike Macfarlane
Marine Parade, Brighton