Train services across Sussex are so abysmal passengers have given up complaining, according to a rail watchdog.

The number of complaints about fares and ticketing more than doubled in the region last year.

But the overall number of complaints in the South fell from 1,974 to 1,658, the Rail Passengers Council's annual report revealed today.

Wendy Toms, regional chair for the RPC, believes that figure does not give a true picture of passengers' unhappiness.

She said: "Complaints to us actually went down by 16 per cent, which is bizarre because services last year were very bad.

"Between October and December in particular, the train companies' performance was diabolical.

"It seems passengers, particularly those in peak-hour, have just given up hope, thinking there's no point complaining because things never get better."

The RPC reported widespread anger from Sussex commuters about the decision to impose stricter conditions on the Network South-East discount railcard.

Mrs Toms said: "The Association of Train Operating Companies showed it could not be relied on to do the decent thing by passengers."

Overcrowding was another serious concern for commuters who reported to the RPC.

South-West Trains was fined a total of £1.147m last year for running shorter trains than it was supposed to - up from £752,000 in 2000-2001.

South Central was also fined more for the same reason, £611,000 compared to £474,000 the previous year.

The report records the number of passengers who have taken complaints to the RPC after being dissatisfied with the train firms' responses.

The number of complaints nationally rose by three per cent to 14,628.

Despite the overall drop in the South the number of complaints about South-West Trains rose by two per cent, from 330 to 336.

There were 339 complaints about South Central, down from 508 last year; 71 about Thameslink, down from 113; 11 about Gatwick Express, down from 30; and 374 about Connex South-East, down from 624.

But angry commuters packed the Southern Rail Passengers Committee's quarterly meeting at Gatwick yesterday.

Many protested about the Strategic Rail Authority's U-turn on the electrification of the lines from Ashford to Hastings and to Hurst Green.

Mrs Toms said: "Six months ago we were told this was a priority. Now the SRA says it isn't financially feasible.

"There's growing support for reopening the line between Lewes and Uckfield, to provide a fast direct route from the South Coast to London. But for that to happen, we need electrification of all lines starting with Uckfield to Hurst Green."