Train services to change without warning

COMMUTERS arriving up for their regular 8.20am train in December could find themselves with a long and chilly wait on the platform.

The "unofficial" connection to Sevenoaks leaving Otford at 8.20am, allowing commuters to join the 8.30am fast train from Sevenoaks to Cannon Street, is to be effectively cancelled.

"As far as Otford commuters are concerned this is a serious backward step which eliminates Otford as a commutable station," said outraged passenger Tony Millward.

"Most will not become aware of these changes until they find that suddenly they are unable to commute to the City directly from Otford."

Mr Millward, of Station Road, overheard services were to be changed on a train home from his property asset management job in the City.

Journeys could take up to an hour longer with the new timetable, which comes into force on December 13.

Services between Otford and Sevenoaks will now not connect with the 8.30am train to London Cannon Street and 7.14pm from Cannon Street to Sevenoaks as it does at present.

"At best, it will be quicker and easier to travel to Sevenoaks by car and join the already overcrowded car parks and services from there," fumed Mr Millward.

"This can only add to overcrowding on Sevenoaks roads in the mornings and evenings and is entirely contrary to the stated policy of encouraging travel by public transport."

He added train services between Sevenoaks and the City are already overcrowded with more passengers than seats.

From December, those leaving for work after 8am will not arrive in the City before 9.30am. After 6.30pm, on average, two changes will be needed.

According to Mr Millward, these changes effectively cut Otford residents off from the City.

He added there should be more, rather than less, services between Otford and the City to encourage the growing number of residents and commuters to use public transport.

Southeastern Trains spokesman Jon Hay-Campbell explained services were set by the Department for Transport (DfT), which take into account commuter numbers.

He said: "I am sorry if a local resident feels disadvantaged by the timetable.

"I'm afraid we did not see a commercial or operational case to seek the DfT's consent to amend the specification in order to facilitate connections from Otford to London Cannon Street, given that demand on this line is for Victoria and Blackfriars.

"However, timetables are not set in stone and once implemented we will be carefully monitoring passenger numbers and timekeeping and listening to passenger feedback.

"If it becomes apparent that the new service pattern is resulting in significant inconvenience to Otford rail users including crowding and performance problems, then there is scope for review in the May 2010 timetable change."