Whilst it is welcome that First Capital Connect (FCC) are offering compensation to their passengers, what commuters from Brighton need is a reliable, affordable rail service. That is why I have lobbied the Transport Minister Sadiq Kahn to bring the franchise back into public ownership immediately as the Government has done with East Coast Main Line.

I know from all the letters and emails I receive from Brighton commuters that they are fed up with paying high fares to travel on outdated uncomfortable trains that m regularly make them late for work and late home. It has seriously affected their quality of life and it’s clear that FCC has run out of steam.

The disastrous Conservative privatisation of the railway network should now be reversed. If elected I commit to campaign for this objective and for fares to be brought down so that the railway can realise its full potential in delivering a greener and more sustainable future.

The private sector investment delivered on the railway has nearly all been underwritten by the Government and yet taxpayers have to subsidise train operating companies profits. This has resulted in far higher levels of Government subsidy to the railway than existing under British Rail. Train operating companies should simply be returned to public ownership at the end of their franchise at no cost to the taxpayer.