A TRAIN used on services between the Sussex coast and London has been withdrawn from service - because it is infested with moths.

A further two trains, with a total of eight coaches, are still being used even though they are also infested with the pests.

The four-coach train taken out of service by Connex South Central was withdrawn after attempts to fumigate it killed the moths, but failed to destroy the eggs.

All four coaches are now being stripped out and the upholstery replaced because it is the only way to get rid of the moths that have colonised the seats.

Connex insists the two trains still in service are being cleaned at least twice a week, and only the eggs survive in coaches being used by the public.

The company says the other two trains will also be taken out of service once work on the firsttrain is completed.

Managers are still unsure where the moths came from, two months after the problem was first identified, but believe the three trains are the only ones affected.

The moth infestation follows problems with fleas on Connex operated trains last summer. Then, one train was cancelled mid-journey after the driver was repeatedly bitten.

Pressure group Save Our Railways believes Connex is seeing the results of cutbacks in its cleaning schedule.

Spokesman Keith Bill said the company was winning a reputation for poor cleanliness and its trains were dirty on the outside and inside.

He said: "We call on Connex to reinstate a full cleaning service because passengers ought to have a good travel experience.

"So stop cutting costs, stop cutting cleaning, and let's have trains back to the standards that we used to enjoy."

His comments were echoed by Shelley Atlas, of the passenger's organisation Brighton Line Commuters.

Connex spokesman Tim Howell denied the company had made any cuts to the number of times trains are cleaned.

He said: "We have not had any problem like this before and as soon as we identify problems like this, we look into it straight away.

"It is a mystery to us how they got there in the first place and we don't anticipate any more units being affected."

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