Still waiting for new trains

NEW high-tech trains will not be arriving at platforms in Newhaven and Seaford as scheduled because of 'technical faults'.

Passengers expected the new rolling stock to be introduced in August after their arrival was heralded in glossy leaflets handed out at stations.

However, South Central Trains revealed this week that there had been problems and the new state-of-the-art carriages had been delayed.

A South Central spokesman said: 'There has been a delay as we have found a couple of technical faults and are still in the process of testing them.'

But this time it wasn't leaves on the line or the 'wrong type' of snow which had led to the hold-up. Instead it was an electrical defect which was causing problems with the automatic door opening mechanism.

The spokesman confirmed this was being rectified and the new carriages should be on track sometime in early October.

Initially, the new Electrostar trains will run alongside the old slam-door trains until all are finally replaced in 2004.

The new carriages will have CCTV, air conditioning, electronic information displays and tables.