COMMUTERS views have been heard and rail operator c2c has made several key changes to its proposed new timetable.

The timetable was announced last October and is set to be implemented in December.

Following a three-month consultation period with passengers, the company have made some alterations to their original plan.

The initial proposals were designed to make the best possible use of their current train fleet while increasing capacity where most needed, improving connections with Transport for London services and improving journey times between Shoebury and London.

The key changes of the new timetable are:

• Two new starter services from Laindon added to the morning peak, with some other trains retimed to close gaps in service. This provides Laindon station with an increase of nine more peak services (47%) compared with today’s timetable.

• Three additional services from Shoeburyness in the morning peak, which will reduce timetable gaps and improve links with Basildon

• Two services will run non-stop from West Ham to Benfleet station at 17.00 and 19.30, which will give non-stop journey times to the Southend area that are comparable with the fastest services in the current timetable

• Other changes to the timing of some individual services

The changes will provide 20 per cent more services for the morning peak period and 30 per cent more in the evening rush hour.

West Ham station, the second-busiest on the c2c network, will receive 75 per cent more peak services.

Managing director of c2c, Julian Drury, said: “This is the first time we have ever consulted on a new timetable so far in advance of its introduction, and this is because we wanted passengers to have a real input into the process.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part.

“We have listened to passengers and made key changes to address the main themes from the consultation, while still delivering the overall key objectives for improving the service.

“We have tried really hard to balance everyone’s needs and include as many ideas as possible, and we will do everything we can to make sure this new timetable is a success.”

The updated timetable will now be submitted to Network Rail and the final timetable confirmed, with exact timings of each service, in September.

C2c will then launch an information campaign to inform all passengers of the changes and the timetable will be in operation from Sunday, December 13.

A full copy of the consultation report and the actions c2c will be taking is available at www.c2c-online.co.uk/travel-information/timetables/c2c-proposed-2015-timetables