Commuters were enduring longer waits and crowded carriages as Southeastern today introduced a reduced autumn timetable to cope with an predicted deluge of “leaves on the line”.
Around 6,000 passengers will be affected as the operator cuts or adjusts suburban services to allow for reduced speeds.
It means that some off-peak trains will call less frequently at 28 Greater London stations including Bexley, Deptford, Plumstead and West Dulwich.
Carl Taylor, 42, who commutes in from West Dulwich, described the measure as “unacceptable”.
The IT worker said: “Leaves on the line.. what sort of excuse is that? It’s unacceptable. The trains are crowded enough as it is.
“We should get money back for this. It’s got to the point where we have been messed about too much.”
Another commuter tweeted: “It isn’t rocket science. If you let trees grow so close to tracks that they hit trains then of course the leaves will be a problem. And, as predicted, it is now the passengers that suffer.”
Stephen Kerr added: “Have we always had slippery rails as an excuse for delays? Used to commute for many years and can’t recall the ‘slippery rails leaves on line excuse being trotted out.”
The company’s reduced timetable will be implemented until Friday to cope with what it expects to be the “most significant” leaf fall of autumn.
Ellie Burrows, train services director for Southeastern said: “Driving conditions can be particularly difficult at this time of year, and just as we wouldn’t ask someone to accelerate over black ice on the roads, leaves on the line pose the same danger on the railway.
“We can’t risk the safety of passengers by driving trains at full speed when conditions are bad.”
She said the changes were being made to ensure the safest and most reliable services and advised passengers to check times in advance.
