The report said trains services were still not reliable enough

A report on Tuesday said replacement bus services had been of poor quality, trains had not been punctual and there had been infrastructure problems.

Many stations did not meet standards and others were deteriorating, the area Rail Passengers Committee said.

Southern, which was formerly known as South Central, said it acknowledged that improvements could be made.

A statement from Southern, which runs services in Surrey, Sussex and parts of London, said: "We are pleased with the positive comments about the company's progress in providing the biggest rolling stock and infrastructure improvement.

"However, we accept that there are many vital areas of our operation that we still need to improve, especially train punctuality."

Government plans to increase the housing stock in Thames Gateway, Ashford and the Weald are well advanced, but where are the resources to increase rail capacity Tim Nicholson, RPC chairman

The 2003/04 annual report by the southern England committee said train performance and service quality was the main area of complaint by passengers.

But the total 833 complaints received was the lowest number since privatisation in 1996/97, the report added.

Chairman Tim Nicholson said: "New rolling stock is not reliable enough yet.

"Creating facilities and training staff to get optimum value in return for the very considerable cost of acquisition and running, presents a huge challenge to the train operating companies."

He said pressure on station car parks in the South East was increasing, with too few practical solutions.

"Government plans to increase the housing stock in Thames Gateway, Ashford and the Weald are well advanced, but where are the resources to increase rail capacity," he said.

Rail disruption

Representatives from South Eastern Trains, Southern, and South West Trains will be at a workshop organised by the committee for passengers to tell stories of rail disruption.

Mr Nicholson said: "Sometimes passengers can lose the best part of a day before reaching their destination.

"It's not always the fault of the train companies, but we need a clear code of conduct."

The workshop is being held at Tonbridge School, Tonbridge, Kent, on Tuesday.