Only those of us born at the beginning of the Second World War will read with astonishment the list of muggings and attacks on trains in 2006 by gangs of young men and women.

We can look back with pleasure mixed with sorrow as we recall how we travelled to London, unmolested and in spectacular style, on the Brighton Belle.

I remember uniformed waiters expertly balanced trays carrying plates, cups and silver teaspoons.

We sat on upholstered seats, with linen chair-backs and elegant tables and lamps. The central aisles had polished panelled walls and engraved-glass cubicle partitions.

In the first-class carriages would be many of the famous personalities of Brighton and not a guard or policeman anywhere in sight. None were needed.

The Lord Chief Justice, prime minister Harold MacMillan and Lord Olivier were regular travellers.

Young men and women starting out in life commuted to London and could afford to do so. We could sit down on any British Rail train knowing we would be in London in 55 minutes and never, at any time, was anyone in fear of being attacked, as they are today.

-Christopher Fox-Walker, Eastbourne