Troubled rail operator Connex has been stripped of running train services in parts of East Sussex earlier than planned.

The French-owned company ran its last train in East Sussex at the weekend, ending an operation that had been dogged by poor performance.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) - which oversees the UK's railways - took over the South Eastern franchise seven weeks early at 2am yesterday.

Connex had its multi-billion pound contract terminated by the SRA in June but was expected to continue running services until the end of the year.

However, South Eastern Trains has been set up by the SRA and it will run the franchise until a private company is chosen, possibly by 2005.

The decision to axe Connex followed a welter of criticism about its poor performance and financial mismanagement, which it denied.

Connex came under fire for failing to meet a detailed programme of improvements on its commuter lines.

In addition to poor performance, the operator had been heavily dependent on subsidies from the SRA to bail it out.

Passengers will shed few tears for Connex which gained a reputation for poor service.

Commuter Kirsty Peters, 22, of Warrior Square, St Leonards, said: "All rail travellers will be glad to see the back of Connex.

"I've lost count of the number of times my daily train has been late.

"It should have been stripped of its licence a long time ago."

Connex said after the SRA announced the end of its franchise it had been committed to ensuring a speedy handover to minimise anxiety for staff and passengers.

Chief executive Olivier Brousse said: "This ends a period of confusion between two different companies with two different visions for our railway."

Posters and leaflets were distributed at the weekend confirming that the services operated, the validity of tickets and frontline staff would not change under the transfer to South Eastern Trains.

South Eastern Trains managing director Michael Holden, said: "My plan for the next 12 months is simple: to get it right, first time, more often.

"The only way it can be achieved is to focus the whole organisation tightly on the relentless, repetitive detail of our operation, day in, day out."

Monday November 10, 2003