There were high hopes for an improvement last year on Sussex commuter services when South Central took over most of them from Connex South Central.

However, delays have got worse rather than better. Much rolling stock remains old. Cuts have been made in services on some routes and an emergency timetable has been introduced.

Things are little better on South Central's sister company, Thameslink, and on the Gatwick Express, where delays have also increased.

No wonder commuters are fed up. Some of them will take part in a national boycott in March.

The problem is not all down to the privatised train companies which took over from British Rail. It is the fault of successive governments.

Tories introduced a new ownership system which had the unique distinction of being even worse than British Rail and the Labour Government has done nothing to make worthwhile improvements.

Transport Secretary Stephen Byers now realises how serious the problems are and said Labour should be judged at the end of this term by how it has managed to deal with them.

That includes stopping the current series of strikes and making proper investment in the railways so they can rival those of continental Europe.

Regular commuters and occasional train passengers will expect no less.