Are they ever?
Well this is true. Must admit it is one of the disadvantages of Twitter in that it gives everyone an opportunity to leap on their hobby horses and rant, and for politicians to get on the bandwagon.
Yes Southern's service on the Uckfield line has been appalling this year but this is due a number of unrelated events, and its not as if Southern's and Network Rail's staff get up in the morning and thin "I know what lets see what we can do to wreck the Uckfield service today".
The reality is that before Southern took on the franchise the service was truly awful, most trains changing at Oxted, last train at 21.00 first train at 6.30 etc, now its last train at 23:00 and 1st at 5:15. Passenger numbers have rocketed to the extent of the acknowledged stock shortage.
Whilst Southern could do more to warn us earlier of the cancellations and short-formations I see little point in ranting about it, as sure as eggs are eggs they dont want the issues either!