For all the complaints about Southern (of which I have a considerable number), many of the problems we face with train reliability and capacity actually come down to Network Rail and what resources they’ve been allocated to keep the network running effectively, with Network Rail’s funding determined by a part of the Government.

Here comes the bad news. In calculating what they need to provide our local rail services, Network Rail worked out that £4.3bn was necessary over the next five years to keep things running effectively, and the Government has given them…£2.9bn. So, I guess it’s sorry Crawley commuters, your ticket prices are going up year-on-year but the quality of your rail services certainly won’t be.

Cllr Peter Lamb

Leader, Crawley Borough Council