Basildon and Wickford Recorder, Friday April 14th 2006

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Stockbroker calls on commuters to fight proposals.

A commuter claims rail company c2c has ignored Laindon and Langdon Hills residents in its new timetable plans.

Stockbroker Linda Underwood, of the Gallops, Langdon Hills, hit out at c2c's plans to scrap the eight morning services which currently start at Laindon railway station every morning.

Under the rail company's proposals for its new timetable, set to come into force on December 10, the services would be replaced by trains which all begin their journeys in Shoebury.

Mrs Underwood, claimed this would mean commuters getting on at Laindon would struggle to find a seat every single morning.

"At the moment, we have 8 trains a morning which start at Laindon, meaning we get a seat and, in the main, the services are more reliable." she said.

"Under c2c's proposals, these would be scrapped and every single train stopping in the morning rush hour would have come from Shoebury and stopped at every other station before getting to us.

"Even though the trains will be longer, it will greatly reduce our chances of getting a seat, and will also mean more disruption if services are stopped between Shoebury and Laindon.

"It strikes me these changes are being implemented purely for the benefit of rail users in the Southend and Benfleet areas."

Commuters have until April 16 to make their feelings known to c2c about the proposals by emailing the independent rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus.

Mrs Underwood, who has been commuting to London for more than 40 years, including 18 on the c2c line, urged her fellow travellers to make themselves heard.

She added: "All we want is to retain the services which start at Laindon every morning."

The service changes will make an extra 1,500 seats available every day, c2c claims.

The new timetable will be finalised in November.

To comment visit: www.passengerfocus.org.uk

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Updated 14/04/2006