New timetable introduced 10/1/06; Previous one being re-instated from date t.b.a. in January 2007.

Folowing many months of planning and public consultation, a new timetable was introduced on 10th December. Its first weekdays did not go well, with operating problems (TWO train failures, along with signalling issues) leading to delays, cancellations, and the inevitable overcrowding. Looking at Thurrock's needs and priorities overall, and acknowledging c2c's need to balance resources and needs across the whole route, TRUG was of the firm opinion that, on balance, the new TT is a better deal - as long as it is delivered with the reliability of the previous one! - for Thurrock than the old one (notwithstanding, and not ignoring, concerns over the Chafford route around 06.30 to London and 18.30 back).

But, of the problems in mid-December, who can say:
- How much of this was due to to the characteristics of the timetable itself?
- How much to the unfortunate timing of now-very-rare train failures?
- How much to the signalling issues?
- How much to passengers not yet having tried out making small adjustments - some beneficial to themselves - to either their time of travel, or where they stand on the platform (!)?
- How much to the reported [by themselves!] dissatisfaction, and rumoured non-cooperation, of drivers known to be unhappy with the new rosters?

We are keen to extract the facts from the speculation (and from some of the more rabid, ill-informed, and frankly selfish comments in the Southend press and elsewhere!) in an effort to go forward and to salvage some of the benefits which the new timetable would have brought (though frankly, we fear that if this could easily have been done incrementally upon the old timetable it would have already happened). Nevertheless, your Committee is planning to meet with the Managing Director and his team, along with Passenger Focus, in January to discuss ways forward from what is, on balance, a great loss for Thurrock's passengers.

Please keep your thoughts coming, along with specific issues and problems, though our "Contact Us" webpage.

Update 03/01/2007:

The 'old' timetable will be reintroduced from 08/01/2007. Two services via Ockendon in the evening 'shoulder peak' period are being increased from 4 to 8 cars. c2c are retaining the 'new' weekend service.

We hope to be able to post further details of what c2c's plans are, for meeting the needs of Thurrock passengers, following our meeting with c2c & Passenger Focus, which is currently scheduled for 15th Jan.

Press Links:

The Thurrock Gazette has an online story concerning the restoration of the 'old' timetable here.