Southeastern timetable changes criticised by watchdog

Southeastern is abolishing First Class when its new timetable comes into force in December.

The operator has revealed that compared to 2019, before the Covid pandemic, it is now carrying 56 per cent of its former weekday peak passenger totals, 77 per cent of weekday off-peak and 90 per cent of weekend traffic, confirming a trend which has already been reported elsewhere. GWR, for example, has just launched discounted weekend tickets which allow travel on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, but not Sundays, so that demand is not put under more pressure on that day.

Southeastern also said journeys on annual season tickets are now just 15 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, and that more passengers now commute only on some days each week.

The new service pattern has been criticised by consumer watchdog London TravelWatch, which is unhappy about reductions in services from stations like Hayes through to London Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Waterloo East. It says that as a result more people will have to change at London Bridge, which is already a busy station.

However, peak time services have been restored between Beckenham Junction and London Blackfriars, and there will be a new all-day service between Maidstone East and Charing Cross, via London Bridge.

Southeastern said its new timetable reflects the way people now travel and includes changes that will improve punctuality. The simpler structure also means that ‘it has the flexibility to alter train services as demand changes’.

Southeastern’s operations and safety director Scott Brightwell said: ‘The way we all travel has changed and many of our customers are now using our services differently and at varying times of the day.

‘This new and improved timetable delivers a more consistent all-day service and means we’re providing trains, and space, where it’s needed most.

‘Our customers tell us that reliability and punctuality are their highest priorities. So, we’ve simplified routes to remove bottlenecks which will see more trains running on time, fewer cancellations, and a more reliable service.

’The simpler structure of the timetable, with most trains leaving stations at broadly the same time each hour, means we can add more trains s demand changes.

‘As we continue to recover from the pandemic, our focus remains on providing the most convenient and reliable railway for everyone who uses it.’

Meanwhile London TravelWatch is calling for more staff to be on duty at London Bridge because of the increase in passengers changing trains, and it is also hoping that Southeastern will be prepared to reverse the changes in the spring if that proves to be necessary.

source= http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2022/09/29-southern-timetable-changes-criticised-by.html

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