The weekly medic column in (The Argus, June 19) raised a topic which has puzzled me for years.

Dr David Delvin received a letter which most rail passengers would agree with, pointing out it is completely unacceptable that Sussex trains, especially the new Electrostars, should be allowed to operate on fairly long journeys without any working toilets.

Therefore, Dr Delvin sent a copy of the letter to the Health and Safety people at Brighton and Hove Council. I'm sure many of us would be interested in their reply.

However, train operators are now private conglomerates and operate across local authority boundaries. Therefore, unlike fixed stations, their trains may avoid frequent environmental health inspection except when in depots.

I note carpets on new trains are becoming filthy.

I was "bursting" on the Victoria to Hove mainline recently, with no operational toilets on the train. I found no relief when I got to Hove, as the photograph shows.

What do people with children do when using unmanned stations without toilets?

-John Stanaway, Member Coastway Division Railfuture, Hove