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Carriage increase in rail reverse

11:06am Thursday 4th January 2007

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TRAIN operator c2c has confirmed that its "old" timetable will be reintroduced next Monday, January 8 - with more carriages for homeward-bound Thurrock commuters.

The schedule will replace the rail company's new timetable, which has been scrapped less than a month after its introduction was plagued by problems.

Thousands of angry commuters had called for the move after the new timetable, introduced on December 11, was hit by delays, cancellations and overcrowded trains.

Managing director Mark Hopwood said: "The peak timetable introduced on December 11 has not been well received by many of our customers and we feel that it is right to withdraw it and to revert to the previous timetable at the earliest possible opportunity.

"We are sorry that many of our customers have been upset by the recent changes and we are responding to their concerns by reverting to the old timetable."

Some minor alterations will remain. The weekday 4.20pm and 6.22pm departures from Fenchurch Street to Stanford-le-Hope via Ockendon will be extended from four to eight carriages. The company has decided to retain its new weekend timetable, which includes new through trains to Southend via Ockendon.

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Your Say YourThurrock Gazette

Observer2, says...
12:51pm Thu 4 Jan 07

** You should email trug@btopenworld.com - your local Rail User Group - if you use c2c services, whatever you think: help them to represent you, by making yourself / your views known! ***

As this is the Thurrock paper, it should have been supportive, not critical, of the changes which provided many benefits, and very few disbenefits, for Thurrock's rail travellers. The bad experiences have been almost entirely down to late running and cancellations, and the overcrowding thereby caused. Punctual running, once the timetable had settled down, would have eliminated this for the most part. Indeed, from Thurrock, most of the complaints are about going back to the old timetable! The "Thousands of angry commuters" have been mostly from Southend and Basildon areas, who now stand to gain most, at the expense of Thurrock's rail passengers - who pay the same amount per mile, if not more, don't forget! So how happy are we all, now?

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C2C Commuter, says...
9:14pm Thu 4 Jan 07

The new timetable has had problems, but it seems a bit knee jerk to simply remove it. There was loads of people from other areas who complained in the consultation period, but hardly anyone from Thurrock. Therefore I should have thought C2C felt Thurrock were happy with the changes. IT seems to me that we're not looking at the advantages it could have. IF they persevered and took the time to make it work, we'd have a far superior service than that we're about to fall back to. Just remember that next time you end up waiting an hour, when your trains cancelled, rather than the 20 minutes that have been implemented.

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C2C user, says...
9:50am Fri 5 Jan 07

I agree with the other posts. Thurrock is again being left out. I use the train from Purfleet and on the old timetable my two normal trains at peak time were 4 carriages. This was increased to 8 on the new timetable but they have already been reduced to 4. Both are completely jammed. The delays appear to be caused when the trains reach barking. They have to stop and allow trains from the 'main line' through before the train from the loop can continue its journey. C2C really need to sort this out if bearing in mind the increase in population projected for Thurrock under the Thames Gateway programme.

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another unhappy traveller, says...
3:50pm Fri 5 Jan 07

I can't agree more with the comments made so far about this article. The new timetable introduced in December was a huge improvement in terms of the capacity provided.

Before the changes I used to witness people having to open the toilet doors on the train and stand in the toilet because ther wasn't any room elsewhere.

C2C have now proved they can provide the extra capacity yet now they are going to withdraw it because of complaints about delays. Are C2C more concerned about their perceived puctuality figures than they are about passenger safety or "comfort", I think they are.

I'd like to know what our MP has to say about the withdrawal of the additional carriages and trains. It appears tht MP's representing passengers on the "main line" were more than happy to get involved on behalf of their constituents, what about us?

I'd like to say thanks to all those that complained about the changes in Thurrock and I hope they're all looking forward to travelling on the over crowded toilets, sorry trains, on Monday morning as I am.

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Sarah Vickery, says...
11:09pm Fri 5 Jan 07

I agree with all the comments that Thurrock people have made, I think it's completely unfair that we have to go back to the old timetable so soon, they have obviously listened to the people in Laindon and not those of us in Thurrock, I didn't sign any petition and was never ever once asked what I thought of the new timetable, the c2c line serves a very large area not just Laindon and Southend, I am devastated actually.

I live in Purfleet and with 2 communter trains that can get people into the city at a reasonable time for a 9.30am start this is just not good, with the new timetable there was at least a choice of 3!!!!!

Why have c2c gone straight back to the old timetable without consulting everyone the Thurrock people haven't had a say and I think it's very unfair - please hear our concerns. I emailed c2c before Xmas immediately I found out that this was going to happen and they replied the day it was announced - clever!!!!!

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Commuter from Thurrock, says...
12:03am Sat 6 Jan 07

Could Thurrock c2c train users not organise a protest as well so our voices can also be heard and so c2c will listen to us as well, could TRUG not help us organise one so we can have the new (and properly revised) timetable put back in place???????

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c2c commuter, says...
12:53am Sun 7 Jan 07

I'm sure TRUG will be talking to C2C as regards this. Presumably if you're asking them to organise a protest, you'll be going to the up and coming meeting, to let them know your feelings and see how you can help out in getting your aims achieved?

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Commuter from Thurrock, says...
6:13pm Sun 7 Jan 07

Yes, I would love to, I am new to the c2c commuter line, I used to travel on One in Havering but didn't want to leave the trains every 10 minute service which is wonderful, when I found out that c2c was going to try and do this I moved to Thurrock, now I am so angry because they are going back to the old timetable which is awful...... When is this meeting I would love to be there, I don't know much about TRUG please fill me in????

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Observer, says...
9:37am Wed 10 Jan 07

In reply to previous question, TRUG's website is www.c2c-offline.co.uk . (It's 5 or 6 down if you Google "TRUG"!). Next meeting 7.45 Tues 16th Jan, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays (check notice board in foyer for room number). See you all there!

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Roger Pope, says...
5:22pm Wed 10 Jan 07

So back to the over full trains ont he tilbury Loop. The new timetable there was much more roo one the trains without all the pushing but it is now back to square one again. Why does C2C take notice off other people on the main line the Thurrock Loop. Also can someone tell what is the point of c2c customer relations being in another country who have no idea of the train running time in Essex.

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