We’re all too quick to condemn the train companies when things don’t run smoothly.

Delays, cancellations or trains replaced by buses, it just drives commuters mad.

Companies running the railways have government-set targets to hit, and when they don’t come up to scratch it’s no wonder they suffer the frustration of travellers.

It’s not on when catching a train from Waterloo in mid-summer and end up standing for most of the journey between carriages, next to a stinking dustbin and outside an over-used toilet and it’s cost you £80 for the privilege.

But today the Daily Echo can reveal even more bad news for commuters – it’s going to get worse.

Figures show that the south’s railway lines are the most underfunded in the country and not only that but some of our hefty fares are being used to subsidise routes elsewhere in the UK.

And according to South West Trains unless action is taken, standing is going to be even more common on underfunded routes across the region.

It’s all very well supporting less profitable routes but we have to get our own house in order first and demand a train service fitting of the 21st century.

Now South West Trains is calling on the region’s MPs, local authorities and businesses to back a campaign calling for a fair deal from Government for the region’s railways.

That is a call we should all support.

Something has to give because the alternatives are even worse. If the rail service does not improve we’ll all end up back in our cars and on the roads and we all know what happens then...even more frustration.