Bosses of ‘incompetent’ rail firm First Capital Connect meet the public

Commuters told of their "10 weeks of hell" as they were given a chance to berate the bosses of one of the country's most unpopular rail operators.

Scores of passengers took the opportunity to "meet the managers" of First Capital Connect during rush hour at St Pancras station last night.

About 80,000 commuters a day use the company's Thameslink line between Brighton and Bedford, which has been hit by technical breakdowns and a dispute about overtime that led to driver shortages.

Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition on the Downing Street website calling for FCC to be stripped of its franchise for a "gross lack of competence".

More than 2,000 people joined an "I hate First Capital Connect" group on Facebook.

Customers have been offered compensation and FCC's new managing director Neal Lawson said the service was gradually improving. He said: "We have to earn people's trust back."

Commuter Donna Tebbutt, 43, from Bedford, who works for the Red Cross, said: "The compensation offer is a disgrace. The trains are still disgusting and there are constant delays."