IT'S that time of year when the already appalling Chingford to Liverpool Street train service gets worse.

It is almost impossible now to accomplish a planned journey on time.

Regular users of the line come to believe that every train they want is late or has been cancelled.

A few weeks ago, a Guardian employee had a typical experience.

She decided to go from our offices at Highams Park to Walthamstow in her lunch hour, starting at 1pm, to buy a gift.

Having had a quick meal in the High Street and found her purchase in a shop there, she was back at Walthamstow Central station before 1.55pm.

What happened next was a farce. The expected train ran through without stopping. The next arrived at 2.20pm and everyone on the crowded platform piled in and piled out again when the driver announced it was going straight through to Chingford.

A stopping train finally arrived at 2.35pm.

Years ago, without benefit of modern technology, trains were famed for their reliability. Companies like WAGN have taken us backwards instead of forwards.