THEY may be hand-me-downs, but at least they have wheels and seats.
The 40 extra carriages promised for the Southend-Fenchurch Street railway line are not in the first flush of youth.
After years of service, they have been acquired from the London Midland railway, which is replacing them with brand spanking new rolling stock.
It would be easy to profess indignation at the thought of south Essex being anyone's poor cousin.
Yet another phrase also comes to mind - beggars can't be choosers.
Commuters on the line will doubtless prefer any extra carriages to no carriages at all.
The Southend Rail Travellers' Association has demanded the previously-enjoyed stock be improved, with refinements such as air conditioning.
This is fine, provided it does not cause long delays to the arrival of the new carriages.
But tired passengers will undoubtedly opt for 1960s seats today, rather than the promise of 21st century climate control at some vague date in the future.
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