Updated: c2c 's timetable changes (From Echo)

Updated: c2c 's timetable changes

4:34am Monday 18th December 2006 in

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Rail company c2c today laid on extra carriages and made timetable changes after a week of chaos.

The move follows hundreds of protests from commuters on the Echo website.

c2c quickly reviewed the Southend to Fenchurch Street timetable introduced just seven days ago.

A series of changes came into effect today.

Extra seats are being provided on some services and a number of early morning services have been extended or leave slightly earlier.

Afternoon trains from Fenchurch Street are leaving a few minutes earlier.

Laindon passengers - who lost seven of their eight morning "starter" trains - have been appeased with the re-introduction of one at 7.01am.

However, many commuters who left messages on echo-news.co.uk felt the changes did not go far enough and planned to stage a protest at Fenchurch Street at 6pm today.

Passenger Focus spokesman Tunde Olatunji said: "The jury is still out on the new timetable.

"The issues are complex, because passengers from Southend want different improvements from those in Laindon or Grays, but the simple fact is the timetable has to work better than it has been so far."

Mike Lamport, communications manager for c2c, said: "The timetable works, as our punctuality figures show, but what we are building into it is the ability to make certain that if anything goes wrong during the day, then it will not affect the evening rush-hour.

"The timetable will be reissued in January, when there may well be some more changes worked into it."

John Baron, MP for Billericay and district, was holding talks with commuter representatives and c2c today.

CHANGES FOR MONDAY MORNING'S TRAINS

To ease congestion:

*5.20am Shoebury to Fenchurch Street will now leave at 5.16am

*6.35am and 7am Shoebury to Fenchurch Street will now start from Thorpe Bay at 6.38am and 7.03am respectively.

*7.12am from Pitsea to Fenchurch Street will now start from Leigh at 7.01am and call at Benfleet at 7.06am and Pitsea at 7.10am

*7.32am from Pitsea to Fenchurch Street will now start from Leigh on Sea at 7.21am, calling at Benfleet at 7.26am and will depart Pitsea at 7.30am.

*7.47am from Stanford-le-Hope to Fenchurch Street will now start from Grays at 7.46am.

To provide more seats:

*5.50am Shoebury to Fenchurch Street via Laindon will be increased from four to eight carriages.

*6.50am Shoebury to Fenchurch Street will be increased from eight to 12 carriages and will call additionally at Laindon at 7.19am.

*An additional four carriage train will start from Laindon at 7.01am calling at West Horndon at 7.05am, Upminster at 7.13am, Limehouse at 7.31am and arriving at Fenchurch Street at 7.38am

To ensure evening rush-hour trains run on time:

*All trains departing from Shoebury and Southend Central to London between 3.36pm and 6.21pm will leave up to three minutes earlier.