JUST before the children returned to school, we decided to go to the Bullring in Birmingham as a last treat.

We decided to travel by train in order to save me driving and having to pay for expensive parking fees.

We went to Foregate Street Station, bought a super saver ticket and went to platform 2, which was rather crowded.

The train pulled in on time 11.25am, but to my amazement, the carriages were almost full.

We found four seats in the one carriage, but not together. At least we could see the children, although some people were forced to stand. Arriving at Droitwich station, yet more travellers squeezed on.

The air in the carriage was becoming hotter and hotter. There were no windows to open, heaters pumping out hot air as if we were in the Antarctic, 10 more minutes before the doors would open to relieve the crush, giving us the chance of some fresh air.

At last, we arrived at Kidderminster. I had hoped that the carriage might empty, but no! A quick gasp of fresh air, and even more travellers squeezed on with yet another pushchair. By now, the aisle was full of passengers holding on to one and other as the train jolted forward.

The carriage was over-full, way to full to meet any of the most basic safety standards.

Why is it that one cannot overload a coach, a bus, an aeroplane, even a ferry at sea, yet train companies just keep packing passengers on, without any thought to health and safety?

Animals have far better travelling conditions that were afforded to us!

To add insult to injury, our tickets were not checked going out to Birmingham.

I expressed my displeasure to a station manager at New Street, but he didn't give a fig.

Fare-paying passengers should not have to put up with such sub standard conditions, and possibly having our lives placed in danger just for some shareholders dividend payment.

GARY KIBBLEWHITE,

Worcester.