Looking down from the railway footbridge over Hove Station platform and sidings this summer, one can see new railway electricity sub-station buildings and power feeder cables spanning out to the third rail power supply for the new, heavier, sliding-door trains.
Why should the taxpayer foot the bill? The franchise train operators ordered the new trains which need more power to operate than the traditional power supply.
Was there a design oversight? It seems the subsidy may have been transferred from Southern England's totally inadequate Rail Network and Infrastructure Modernisation Treasury grant.
Thus Southern England's rail passengers will continue to face delays, cancellations and standing room only on a totally overloaded, inadequate rail network as the salt-of-the-earth railway staff try to calm passengers while they take the blame.
-John Stanaway, Hove
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