"Dirty, cold and late" - a typical commuter train from Kent

TRAIN services to London have "never been so poor", according to commuters who think the new high speed rail link has made things worse.

Although passengers have faced long delays due to snow and ice over the past month they say services are sub par whatever the weather. Complaints include over crowded trains, rude employees, dirty carriages, broken down heaters and delayed and cancelled services.

London broker John Clack, from Bishopstone Drive, Herne Bay, criticised the new high speed services to St Pancras in London.

He said: "It's never been so poor. Southeastern Trains have degraded regular services in favour of the high speed trains. Why would I want to go to St Pancras when my work is two minutes from Canon Street?"

Many people working in London's financial district have similar complaints.

London Stock Exchange worker John Nicholson, said trains were a "disgrace".

He told the Times: "I think this is theft on a grand scale and the services provided are a disgrace. The condition of the trains is shocking.

"The high speed rail link is a huge backwards leap in commuter travel.

"The time difference in travelling from Herne Bay to St Pancras is lost when you consider that I would have to travel back to Cannon Street by tube."

Commuter Tee Jay Voller, who works in the financial district, agreed.

She said: "It doesn't go where I want to go and we have to pay for it. The trains are dirty, smelly and late."

Herne Bay councillor, Peter Lee, has been commuting to London for 30 years.

He said: "The train services have been going downhill all the way. The new services are not useful for the vast majority of users."

A spokesman for Southeastern Trains said services had actually improved on the line from Herne Bay and Whitstable via Faversham.

He said: "As of 13 December we introduced a new timetable which affected the timing of every train across the network and saw the start of high speed services. In that original specification Herne Bay was actually supposed to see a reduction in the number of services. Following research and consultation with local stakeholders, Southeastern has reinstated some peak time Canon Street services into the new timetable."