South Central, new operator of most train services in Sussex, is already making cuts.

It is axing a popular early-evening service from Brighton to London and cutting off the Brighton to Gatwick link of the hourly service to Rugby.

These cuts occur at a time when the company has promised more reliable services and when demand for rail travel is increasing.

The operator is finding it hard to recruit enough drivers and maintenance workers to keep a full timetable going.

South Central inherited problems from the previous operator, Connex, which lost the franchise because of its poor service.

All rail passengers hope South Central will provide a better service. But these cuts are not a good start.