Prime Minister Tony Blair rubbed shoulders with Sussex rail commuters as he headed to Brighton to address union delegates.

But while some were glad to see Mr Blair on the 17.07 from Victoria - it arrived on time at 18.17 - others were not.

Annabel Hilder, 31, from Hove, a daily commuter, said: "I think it's ridiculous that the train service which is appalling and nine times out of ten is late is so unusually empty at rush hour and I can only assume it is because the Prime Minister is on board.

"If he just got on the service off the cuff he wouldn't get a seat - then he would really know how bad the service is.

"The train is normally packed and very hot. There are normally 40 people in the section where Tony Blair is."

And one angry passenger shouted: "A man of the people? He sat in first class."

The Prime Minister last night gave a speech at a private dinner of 360 TUC delegates and officials at the Grand Hotel before heading back to London.

Rail chiefs have extended the Thameslink franchise to operate between Brighton and Bedford for another two years.

The Strategic Rail Authority announced it would begin talks with parent company Govia about extending the franchise, which was due for renewal next year.

The two-year extension is intended to help resolve problems caused by delays to the planned upgrade of rail routes through London.

Problems are also expected on lines used by Thameslink trains over the next two years because of work on the Channel Tunnel rail link at Kings Cross.

Parent company Govia was awarded the South Central franchise, between Brighton and Victoria, in May.

Wessex Trains, which operates regional services from Brighton to the West Country and Wales, has also had a two-year extension.