I find the train companies' attitude towards the London to Brighton ride amazing. Why would a commercial company pass-up a perfect business opportunity?

If I was a shareholder of Southern or Thameslink, I would be incensed.

Train companies could have laid on trains to take people and their bikes back to London and made money, instead of wasting it hiring security guards at weekend rates to stop individuals using the trains.

The companies claimed the seats could not be removed, which I find hard to believe. Are they welded to the carriage frame? If they are bolted on, simply unbolt them.

The train companies could have contacted the organisers of the ride and arranged for special, pre-paid tickets to be sold.

The same problem is going to occur with Portsmouth's forthcoming Festival of the Sea. This is a major event and what are the train companies doing about it? Nothing.

Thousands of people will probably drive there next weekend because they know train services will be non-existent or overcrowded, or both.

-Paul Seymour, Portslade