We have no rights, there is no competition or alternative if you want to get a train. I got a train in to university every day in my first year (Fareham to St Denys/Southampton Central), getting there was fine 98% of the time but home was frequently delayed, if not cancelled. My ex-girlfriend lived in Havant, getting to and from there was usually horrendous (from Swaythling, moved in my second year), especially on a Sunday. Pretty sure I went on more buses than trains! As far as different operators go, Southern has the nicest trains, SWT are alright, FGW are horrible. But they are all as unreliable and expensive as each other.
If you want to see how a train service should run, go to Japan. Dirt cheap, always bang on time and spotless.