Changes to Southeastern train times affecting lives of commuters on Dartford to London lines
Changes in the Southeastern train timetables are still having far-reaching affects on people's lives as they are being forced to cancel social events and wait on dark, lonely platforms because of cancellations.
Ellie Connolly, of St Clements Lakes, Greenhithe, has to ask family members to come out of the way to collect her from Dartford station if her train to Gravesend is cancelled as she is worried about waiting in the dark for a bus or taxi.
She said after her train times home were changed she tried to adapt her route to travel via Abbey Wood to avoid being stranded, but it does not always work.
"Coming back home is a nightmare," she said. "I'm often left waiting around 25 minutes at Abbey Wood for my connecting train. The other night they cancelled the 18.16 train, the next one to Gravesend was cancelled and then the following one didn't run any further than Dartford.
"Luckily I have family who can give me a lift from there but it's frustrating as a commuter that even if you get to work fine, you have the stress of what if I can't get back."
But Ellie, 23, can't always rely on someone being around to collect her which means she has to get the bus home from Dartford in the dark.
"If my family can't pick me up I have to wait at a bus stop on my own in the dark."
The service changes came into effect in December. Southeastern said the new 'standard hour’ timetable would mean "a more consistent service throughout the day, with most trains leaving stations at broadly the same time each hour, with additional trains at peak times".
However, direct services on the North Kent line to Charing Cross were axed.
Fellow commuter Marina, of Eagles Road, Greenhithe, said the train issues have stopped her socialising with friends because she can never guarantee getting anywhere.
"I don't have my own car, so I do rely on the trains if I want to visit my mum or my friends at the weekend. If the trains aren't running from Greenhithe then I end up having to pay for an Uber which can be incredibly pricey, especially during the cost of living crisis.
"Normally I end up just cancelling my plans and staying at home as I can't afford to keep travelling by Uber."
She added: "I have lost some of my independence because of this. If you rely on public transport you are left with few options and it does really affect and limit what you do."
Emily Abbott, of Station Road, Greenhithe, has had her entire family's mornings turned upside down after the timetable changes introduced in January meant her usual train was cut.
As a direct result of the train operators axing of the 7.42am train from Greenhithe to London Waterloo she has been forced to get an earlier train, meaning she no longer has time to drop off her beloved cockapoo, Archie, at doggy daycare.
"My husband or I used to drop him off each day, but now they have to come and pick him up, which they don't usually do. They have been very flexible about it but it shows how these changes have a domino effect. It causes problems for everyone."
She added: "My husband has had to change the days he works in the office to fit in."
And when she does get on the train Emily said it is so full no one can get a seat by the time it gets to Hither Green. With the summer's getting increasingly hotter she is worried about the effects on passengers' health.
"Now it's cancelled everyone has to get the 7.30am train, as if they waited until 8am they would be late for work. It is becoming dangerously overcrowded. People get ill in the summer and that is just going to get worse with these packed carriages."
The 32-year-old also has to leave work earlier to catch a train home in time to collect Archie.
She added: "Southeastern have introduced the idea of using stations to change. I did try this for a week but it didn't work as my train sat outside London for ages and I ended up missing the connection. It's just not working."
A spokesman for Southeastern and Network Rail has issued an apology about the disruption caused by the timetable changes.
He 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.”