Passengers at Lee and Hither Green stations hit out over Southeastern timetable changes – causing overcrowded trains, delays and disruptions on their morning commutes to work.

On December 11, 2022, Southeastern introduced several timetable changes including reducing the number of services on certain lines and changes in train times.

The Sidcup line that runs through Lee and Hither Green now have 18 services running to and from London according to Southeastern.

Southeastern has claimed that the changes were made to reduce “congestion at busy junctions”, such as Lewisham, and ensure “better punctuality and fewer cancellations overall”.

However, some commuters at Lee and Hither Green have hit out over the new timetable, saying that changes have led to cancelations, busy stations and overcrowded trains.

According to Hither Green passenger, Rosie Horton, these travel conditions are something she witnesses everyday, and passengers are not able to board trains at Hither Green.

Rosie has described a journey when she witnessed passengers having to make a swift attempt to board the next train after hers was full.

She said: “The first train arrived with no hope of getting on it, and the leftover passengers had to sprint across the footbridge to get on the next one.

“Even that was so packed that people were left stranded on the platform.

“This isn’t a one-off occurrence; it happens every single day.

“Add to that the increasing prices for a significantly poorer service and it feels like a slap in the face each morning before I’ve even got to work”.

Rosie is sure that the delays and disruptions can be attributed back to when the new timetable was put in place - which she says made traveling conditions worse than they had been before.

Rosie added: “It can all be traced back to the timetable changes they implemented in December.

“Before then, it was hard to get on a train but nothing compared to what we are experiencing now.

“Even our driver the other days sighed over the speaker and announced that we were “delayed due to lots of problems with the new timetable.” Passengers have also been taking to Twitter to air their concerns to Southeastern, by sharing stories of overcrowded trains, delays and passengers unable to board busy carriages.

Twitter user @rhiannonej shared a photo of a crowded carriage on the 8:01am service from Lee and said: “@Se_Railway overcrowding on 8.01 from Lee as well, barely any space”.

 

Anna Swift Russel said that her morning commute from Albany Park to Charing Cross was very busy with passengers unable to board at Lee Station and advised Southeastern that their new timetable was not working.

@annafantanna tweeted: “@Se_Railway 7.48am Albany Park to CHX extremely busy.

“By the time it got to Lee, no-one could get on.

“This new timetable is NOT working.

“Adding stress, time & overcrowding to people’s commutes.

“Worse than pre Covid times”.

 

Twitter user Sarah Hickey claimed that overcrowded trains were forcing passengers a and Lee and Hither Green to run up and down the platforms in an attempt to board a busy train.

@SarahHi90659646 wrote: “@Se_Railway 8.24am new eltham to charingcross was ridiculously busy.

“The poor people at lee and hither green running up and down the platform trying to get on”.

 

In response to a tweet by Southeastern, another Twitter user said that since the new timetable was introduced their journey has become uncomfortable and overcrowded with delays to services.

@Cowji1 wrote: “Nevermind the fact that the new timetable gets me into london later because you've cut the fast trains at the time I travel.

“Every single train I have taken to/from Lee since the timetable change has been late.

“Late & overcrowded.

“I used to be able to sit, now I stand like a sardine”.

 

Southeastern and Network Rail apologised to commuters for the disruption and discomfort to their customers and told the News Shopper that this turbulent start wasn’t the one they had been anticipating.

They also said that they are working to improve the timetable and are committed to providing a service with low cancelations.

In a joint statement Southeastern and Network Rail said: “We’re sorry to all our customers who have had disrupted or uncomfortable journeys recently.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted or had planned for, nor what our customers deserve.

“Together, Southeastern and Network Rail are committed to providing a low-cancellation, on-time railway and we’re working around the clock to improve our infrastructure, our trains and our timetable.

“We believe that over the next few weeks our customers will see a steady improvement.”

Lewisham East MP: Janet Daby told News Shopper that her constituency have addressed concerns for traveling including vulnerable people including families, elderly and disabled passengers.

She also told News Shopper that she has raised these concerns with the rail minister.

Janet said: “Since the new timetable was implemented, there has been widespread disruption in stations across my constituency.

“Like my constituents I have been frustrated and dismayed by delayed and cancelled trains, and the inevitable overcrowding this causes.

“I have heard stories from all corners of my constituency, but the most concerning are from those who are the most vulnerable, such as families with young children, the old and the disabled.

“These are the people who struggle the most, for example, it sounds terrifying for an older resident changing at London Bridge, getting down those stairs in cold weather when the escalators are broken”.

“I have raised these concerns with the rail minister. 

"In the meantime, my constituents must wait for their trains and see their time wasted by these changes.”