I experienced involuntary audible laughter when reading Shaun Steer's observations about South Central and Thameslink (Letters, November 8).

Living in Hove, just round the corner from this reader, and having commuted to Battersea for two-and-a-half years, I empathise with the torture described.

My one area of disagreement is in the comment that the Connex service was far superior to the Thameslink operation.

Connex "cattle trucks" were so packed to the gills, particularly at Clapham Junction and Croydon, that I had to practise running at open "slam-doors" in order to generate sufficient momentum and the physical airspace required for alighting the carriage.

The funniest point came when I saw a constant trail of perplexed and incredulous expressions on passengers' faces while attempting the difficult task of negotiating an internal carriage door hanging non-vertically by one screw in a hinge without carrying the door with them.

In fact, punctuality was so shambolic and "super-delays" so commonplace I finally gave in and resigned from a well-paid job in London earlier this year to retain my sanity and re-establish my social life.

I have no regrets and sympathise with those who still suffer this route now under South Central.

-Paul Andrew Woodroof, Goldstone Villas, Hove