Train boss ambushed on the 6.59

Commuters got their own back today when the chief of Connex joined them on the train to work.

They poured out their anger and frustration at the terrible service provided by the most criticised rail company in the country.

First to feel the commuters' wrath was Gillingham Labour MP Paul Clark who met passengers on the platform at Rainham, Kent in an attempt to plead the Government's case.

Mr Clark said the railways will improve and that ministers are committed to spending £60 billion over the next 10 years.

David Johns, a 43-year-old City banker, looked Mr Clark closely in the face and said: "The service is disgusting. It is daily misery for commuters.

"You, the Government, have had years to sort this out and get investment into the industry ... and what have you done?"

Mr Clark tried a new tack - he travelled by train into London-too, he said. "When?" demanded Mr Johns. "When did you last travel by train?"

The MP interrupted: " Investment is going in..." to which Mr Johns snorted: "You have not even scratched the surface."

Then it was the turn of Connex managing director Olivier Brousse on the 6.59 to Cannon Street. Amazingly, the 6.59 which was to carry M Brousse and his operations chief John Thompson on the journey, was the full 12 coaches long and not the usual shortened version.

The loudspeaker crackled: "We apologise for the late running..."

M Brousse met the two most vociferous of the commuters, Mr Johns and John Davies, a 42-year-old City insurance worker. They each pay more than £2,100 (including a five per cent discount because of previous poor service) for the annual privilege of travelling to work in cattle truck conditions. The Connex boss explained that the company was having a " difficult autumn" with leaves on the line and the introduction of its new trains.

"Things are not going as smoothly as we had hoped," said M Brousse.

He has £200 million worth of new trains sitting idle in sidings at Ashford because they do not work properly. There are problems with the onboard computers and they will not couple together properly. M Brousse is refusing to accept them until the problems are ironed out.

Mr Davies told M Brousse: "We know it is not all your fault. It is a fragmented service. But the trains run late more often than not and, as we have seen again today, when they do arrive there are not enough carriages." Many of the old "slam door" trains, of 1960 vintage, have come up for their 250,000 miles service all at the same time, said M Brousse. This, he said, had resulted in a shortage of carriages.

He held both arms wide. "There is little improvement to expect before Christmas," he said. "After that the service should get better."

Tony Andrews, a health and safety consultant from Tenham, near Faversham, joined in the general chorus about late and cancelled trains.

"It is not a good example for visitors when they board one of your trains and see the dirty conditions," he told M Brousse.

Adrian Tear, another City banker from Chatham, season ticket £2,190, and a commuter for 20 years, also complained of the shortage of rolling stock.

By then, the 6.59 had slowed to snail's pace - as it always does on the approach to London Bridge. It arrived at Cannon Street at 8.15 - 16 minutes late.

Not bad by Connex standards.