WEEKEND train passengers will be able to get from Southend to London in just 44 minutes when new fast trains are rolled out.

Train operator c2c's new trains will also reach Shoeburyness within 55 minutes.

The hourly weekend trains will run from June and call at all stations between Shoeburyness and Benfleet, before running fast to West Ham and Fenchurch Street only.

The new services will be on top of c2c’s existing weekend services.

At the same time, c2c will also be extending its weekend trains via Ockendon to and from Shoeburyness, instead of Southend Central.

Bosses say this will increase the number of trains into Southend town centre for residents using Southend East, Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness stations from four to seven trains an hour.

There will also be direct weekend services from the stations to to Lakeside shopping centre for the first time.

The operator has also cut Pitsea and West Horndon stations from its direct weekend trains to Stratford and Liverpool Street.

Julian Drury, c2c Managing Director, said: “We know how important it is to provide fast trains between London and Southend, helping people to get out and about at weekends.

"These new extra fast trains will slash the journey time between London and Southend, while our extra trains from Shoeburyness will help local residents get into the town centre by public transport. This is good news for our customers, and good news for Southend’s economy. ”

Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge added: “It is fantastic news that c2c are putting on an extra fast train from Shoebury to London every hour at weekends from June.

"The journey time will be 55 minutes; much faster than normal.

"I have been working with c2c to make more trains 'Shoebury to London in 59 minutes'.

"c2c is a pipeline of money, jobs and prosperity linking Southend with central London.”