The problem reported by Rowan Dore (The Argus, June 16) about the lack of design consultation for the Electrostar trains, which were unable to take bicycles competing in the London-to-Brighton bike ride, is only one fault to come to light since the power hungry, sliding-door Electrostar trains came into service.

Mothers with pushchairs face hostility when sharing sliding-door carriages with bicycles, as well as bulky luggage, pets and fold-up bikes in the overcrowded new trains.

Instead, investment has been spent on custom-built depots and higher-power track installation sub-stations, plus thousands of miles of new conduit to conductor rails across southern England.

Yet still the new Electrostar trains, having been designed for high-speed track and an overhead power supply (as indicated in their roof profile), cannot be used at their full potential.

Southern trains can't be singled out as it was its predecessor, Connex, which ordered the Electrostar trains.

So much for foreign companies running our railways.

-John Stanaway, Hove