Southeastern
is
abolishing
First
Class
when
its
new
timetable
comes
into
force
in
December.

The
operator
has
revealed
that
compared
to
2019,
before
the
Covid
pandemic,
it
is
now
carrying
56
per
cent
of
its
former
weekday
peak
passenger
totals,
77
per
cent
of
weekday
off-peak
and
90
per
cent
of
weekend
traffic,
confirming
a
trend
which
has
already
been
reported
elsewhere.
GWR,
for
example,
has
just
launched
discounted
weekend
tickets
which
allow
travel
on
Fridays,
Saturdays
and
Mondays,
but
not
Sundays,
so
that
demand
is
not
put
under
more
pressure
on
that
day.

Southeastern
also
said
journeys
on
annual
season
tickets
are
now
just
15
per
cent
of
pre-pandemic
levels,
and
that
more
passengers
now
commute
only
on
some
days
each
week.

The
new
service
pattern
has
been
criticised
by
consumer
watchdog
London
TravelWatch,
which
is
unhappy
about
reductions
in
services
from
stations
like
Hayes
through
to
London
Charing
Cross,
Cannon
Street
and
Waterloo
East.
It
says
that
as
a
result
more
people
will
have
to
change
at
London
Bridge,
which
is
already
a
busy
station.

However,
peak
time
services
have
been
restored
between
Beckenham
Junction
and
London
Blackfriars,
and
there
will
be
a
new
all-day
service
between
Maidstone
East
and
Charing
Cross,
via
London
Bridge.

Southeastern
said
its
new
timetable
reflects
the
way
people
now
travel
and
includes
changes
that
will
improve
punctuality.
The
simpler
structure
also
means
that
‘it
has
the
flexibility
to
alter
train
services
as
demand
changes’.

Southeastern’s
operations
and
safety
director
Scott
Brightwell
said:
‘The
way
we
all
travel
has
changed
and
many
of
our
customers
are
now
using
our
services
differently
and
at
varying
times
of
the
day.

‘This
new
and
improved
timetable
delivers
a
more
consistent
all-day
service
and
means
we’re
providing
trains,
and
space,
where
it’s
needed
most.

‘Our
customers
tell
us
that
reliability
and
punctuality
are
their
highest
priorities.
So,
we’ve
simplified
routes
to
remove
bottlenecks
which
will
see
more
trains
running
on
time,
fewer
cancellations,
and
a
more
reliable
service.

’The
simpler
structure
of
the
timetable,
with
most
trains
leaving
stations
at
broadly
the
same
time
each
hour,
means
we
can
add
more
trains
s
demand
changes.

‘As
we
continue
to
recover
from
the
pandemic,
our
focus
remains
on
providing
the
most
convenient
and
reliable
railway
for
everyone
who
uses
it.’

Meanwhile
London
TravelWatch
is
calling
for
more
staff
to
be
on
duty
at
London
Bridge
because
of
the
increase
in
passengers
changing
trains,
and
it
is
also
hoping
that
Southeastern
will
be
prepared
to
reverse
the
changes
in
the
spring
if
that
proves
to
be
necessary.