Southeastern announces 'simpler' timetable due to fall in commuting

Southeastern is removing first class on its services

Southeastern is bringing in a new timetable in December in response to a large fall in commuting since the pandemic.

The operator said it would also be scrapping first class on its services between London, Kent and East Sussex.

Under the new timetable, the company said most trains would leave stations at about the same time each hour, with extra services at peak times.

The changes come into effect on Sunday 11 December.

Scott Brightwell, Operations and Safety Director for Southeastern, said: "Our customers tell us 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 means we can more add more trains into the timetable as demand changes."

Removing first class will also free up 60 seats a day on a 12-car train.

When asked by the BBC if the new timetable would mean cuts to services, a spokesman said it would "have a very similar number of train services to today but will be structured to better match space on trains with demand and therefore be more efficient."

Southeastern runs services between London and the Kent and East Sussex coasts

Southeastern said between February and July 2022 weekday peak demand was only 56% of pre-pandemic levels.

Weekday off peak had recovered by 77% and weekend journeys by 90%.

In the same period, weekly, monthly and annual season ticket journeys were down 32% on the six months before the pandemic, with the figure for annual season tickets at just 15%.

The changes will see a new all-day service between Charing Cross and Maidstone East, via London Bridge, but customers on the Hayes line wanting to go to Cannon Street, and Greenwich customers heading to Charing Cross will need to change trains at London Bridge.

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