Anger over new timetable for Blackheath

12.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Nov 2009

Liberal Democrat councillors in Greenwich have joined commuters using Blackheath Station in expressing their anger about cuts in the new peak hour train timetable which starts in December 2009. Under the current timetable 13 trains leave Blackheath for London between 8 and 9am on weekdays. This will fall to ten from December 13th.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Webbewood says "Blackheath commuters have been deliberately singled out for cuts. The Government has told Southeastern trains to provide a peak hour service between Orpington and Lewisham. This might be desirable but in order to make room the train company has cut out all trains using the Woolwich-Blackheath link during a two and a half hour period. Everyone using Blackheath will suffer as Southeastern trains are determined to implement the changes.

"Along with colleagues I have met their representative whose only answer was to point to more trains before 7am and more trains to Victoria. I was not impressed. However Southeastern have promised to consider changes next May if the new timetable does not work. It is important that Blackheath commuters continue to make their case and do not suffer in silence."