As a battle-weary commuter who stands virtually every day into London, may I suggest Connex introduces a third ticket tariff: First class, second class and the new standing class.

The cost could be 50 per cent of a second-class ticket, thus being commensurate with the service supplied.

Also, by removing seats from perhaps two carriages of every 12-carriage train and putting in handrails, the capacity of these trains could be increased by up to 50 per cent.

Alternatively, Connex could provide carriages like those found on the London Underground (that is, half seats, half standing).

Standing is also proven to be better for you - you won't end up with any of those blood clots that airline passengers get through sitting down.

J K Collins, Coopers Close, Burgess Hill

Van-ished

I was interested in the picture of the vans outside The Argus's old Robert Street works (The Argus Weekend, October 13).

The tall man on the left of the picture is my uncle, Frank Barnes, in charge of transport.

I started work aged 14 in 1935 as an apprentice in the linotype department at 130 North Street before it moved to Robert Street.

I remember we apprentices went on to the roof at North Street to see the parade celebrating the 25th year of King George V's reign.

The old pigeon lofts were still on the roof, a relic of the days when out-of-town news was sent by pigeon.

Circulation manager Tommy Venn, on the right of the photograph, was great at organising publicity events. He was also a good banjo player.

-Reg Carden, Beechwood Avenue, Brighton