Trains ‘worse now’ for 13% of customers

FAILING Southeastern ONE in eight train users feel their service has got worse in the past year.

Two thirds thought it was the same, 20% noticed an improvement and 13% felt it had declined, a Which? survey found.

It comes despite fares rising by 3.4% this month.

Alex Hayman, of Which?, blamed “delays, cancellations and dirty trains” for poor reviews.

But the Rail Delivery Group, representing train firms, insisted: “The most recent survey by the independent passenger watchdog Transport Focus found 83% were satisfied with their journey.”

Troubled Southern Railway was the worstrated operator, with Southeastern and Thameslink and Great Northern in joint second-last place. PROVOCATION

Tupolev bomber

TYPHOON fighter jets intercepted two Russian long-range bombers heading towards the UK yesterday.

Two jets from RAF Lossiemouth, in Moray, Scotland, flew at 500mph to catch up with the Tupolev Tu-160s, 30 miles from UK airspace.

The Russian bombers, known as Blackjacks, turned and headed north, escorted by the Typhoons, which were armed with missiles.

An RAF spokesman said: “The Russian aircraft were intercepted by the RAF in the North Sea.”

Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Holland and France also scrambled jets as the bombers approached, military sources told the Mirror.