Three months of “commuting hell” inflicted on its customers by train operating company First Capital Connect has led to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis describing the company as sub-standard.

Service has been especially poor on the Bedford to Brighton line with a constant changing of timetables and a lack of customer communication from the company.

It has been suggested to Lord Adonis by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Beds, that he consider stripping FirstGroup of their most lucrative franchise.