TRAIN operator c2c has performed a U-turn on its new timetable following pressure from commuters.

The National Express company has amended its plan for December’s new timetable, meaning the fastest journey times of the current timetable are retained.

Managing director Julian Drury said: “We know how strongly our Southend passengers feel about fast services to London, so we’ve listened to what they said and made these changes.

“Throughout the process of developing this new timetable we have made alterations following passenger feedback.

“The timetable now provides the right balance of passenger benefits, with more seats, fast journeys and better connections.

“It will help more passengers travelling long distances to get a seat, and more passengers making short trips to get on a train at all.”

The fastest morning peak services from the Southend area to London will now be: - A 6.48am departure from Shoebury, calling at all stations to Benfleet then running non-stop to Fenchurch Street, arriving at 7.48am. The 60-minute journey time replaces the 59-minute journey time of the equivalent service in the current timetable, which arrives at 7.45am.

- A 7.18am departure from Shoebury, calling at all stations to Chalkwell, then at West Ham and Fenchurch Street, arriving at 8.19am. The 61-minute journey time is faster than the equivalent service in the current timetable, which also arrives at 8.19am.

The company said the time savings were achieved with newly-amended stopping patterns for the trains, and by creating an opportunity for the preceding services to be overtaken at Barking station.

c2c will begin an extensive passenger information campaign next month to make sure all passengers are aware of how train times are changing before the new timetable is introduced on Sunday, 13 December.