Threat to rush hour trains
By Jamie Forsyth, Basildon Echo, 27th March 2006

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Hundreds of commuters could lose rush-hour trains which start at Laindon station as part of a timetable shake-up, it was revealed today.

Rail company c2c has promised more 12-coach trains, faster journeys from many stations and more rush hour services for commuters in South Essex to London.

However, as a trade-off, commuters from Laindon will now have to board trains passing through rather than board one starting from Laindon station.

Commuter Bev Boreham-Bevan said; "All commuter trains that stop at Laindon in rush hour are always packed and you cannot get a seat. In fact, passengers get off other trains and on to Laindon starter trains.

"If the proposed timetable is to go ahead and c2c ignores Laindon commuters, then our fares from Laindon should be drastically reduced.

"c2c is a great train service at the moment, lets not change something that is not broken or does not require fixing - we do not want the misery line back."

There are also likely to be fewer trains serving Limehouse, which is a major interchange for Docklands.

Graham Bashford, external relations manager for c2c, said "In any timetable it is impossible to give everybody everything they want.

"We want to give the best timetable we can to the biggest number of people.

"The fact there won't be trains starting from Laindon will not make a great deal of difference. Overall, the vast majority of people will benefit one way or another from timetable changes.

"We are genuinely sorry if people do not feel this is the case for them.

To view the proposed changes visit http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/travel/2006ttconsultation.html

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