Replies to members issues will be posted on this website as soon as possible after they are received.

Representatives of Brighton Line Commuters meet with senior management of rail and transport companies in order to voice our members issues. Responses are sent directly to you by email and common interest issues are distributed to BLC members.

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1. We have raised with FCC the lack of heating on certain of their trains and we have been passing to them the carriage numbers of the carriages where members have reported the heating has not been working
2. We have asked how many trains on the Brighton to Bedford service have been refurbished –so far we understand 36 have been completed.
3. We have asked why there are no First Capital Connect timetables available at Southern stations – they have confirmed that this will be looked into.
4. We have asked if the 18.42 service from London Bridge which currently consists of 4 cars can be made into an 8 car service.
5. With the introduction of the new timetable and the loss of some of the Southern services we have asked First Capital Connect if they would consider introducing any additional services from Brighton to London Bridge.
6. We have asked for an improvement in the 17.32 service from London Bridge which we understand is often cancelled/late - these cancellations etc have a big impact particularly on Balcombe passengers who join the train at Gatwick.
7. During engineering works on the Brighton main line First Capital Connect stop at Haywards Heath and offer a rail replacement service. As Southern run one train per hour via Haywards Heath we have asked why FCC cannot continue to Preston Park instead of having a rail replacement service.
8. We have asked if the new trains being introduced by First Capital Connect during 2009 are to have 3 x 2 or 2 x 2 seating.
9. We asked why Revenue Protection teams do not enforce the cycle policy - it is a particular problem at Gatwick on platform 5/6 where staff regularly ignore passengers taking bikes on services.
10. We have asked when the new trains go into service if they are all to be 8-car services in the peak on their trains down to Brighton. This is contrary to a note on First Capital Connect's website which states all but 6 services will consist of 8 cars.
11. We have asked why East Croydon control applies differing rules/decisions concerning the changing of stopping patterns when trains are running late.

Members - Submit an issue or query

1. We have raised the problem with some of the Gatwick Express 442 rolling stock having an unbearably loud announcement system.  The voice is a woman's. The 'bing-bong' precursor is ear-shattering and then she comes on and bellows her message. It is completely unnecessary for it to be so loud. This time on the train should be restful, but it's impossible with this high-decibel announcement. We have asked that it is turned down
2. We have raised with Southern the continuing poor performance of the new extended Gatwick Express trains and the excessive amount of cancellations and trains in short formation.
3. We have raised with Southern ongoing problems with on train and station announcements and especially the continual failure to offer proper explanation and apology at times of disruptions and delays.
4. We have raised the issue of the platform benches at Polegate Station and asked if there is any way these could be re-positioned as currently they are all out in the open which is particularly a problem when the waiting room is shut. One suggestion is that one or two could be re-sited outside the waiting room (outside the ticket office) as there is a little overhead protection there and also it would keep the benches drier.
5. We have asked Southern to explain why the 16:17 Victoria to Littlehampton was reduced from 8 coaches to 4 after 14 December and asked for the 8 cars to be reinstated.
6. We have asked Southern when the faulty car park payment ticket machine on the wooden runway at Brighton station by Platform 7 will be repaired. We understand this has been out of service for some time.
7. We have asked Southern whether the waiting room at Haywards Heath could be left open in the evening after 10.00 pm. That station is staffed after all and it would be nice if commuters could have somewhere warm and sheltered to go whilst waiting at night for a train.
8. We have asked Southern to resolve the problems of flooding in the pay and display car park at Three Bridges Station
9. We have requested Southern to compensate commuters following the serious problems experienced on Southern services since November.
10. We have asked for a large number of changes to the peak hour services especially on the East and West Coastway services to and from London.
11. We have also asked for each of the extended Gatwick Express Services to and from Brighton to stop at either Clapham Junction or East Croydon, 3 at each of these stations in each direction. Morning peak services to stop to set down only and evening peak services to stop to pick up only.

Members - Submit an issue or query