Southeastern have announced, without any prior consultation, that from December 2022 there will be significant timetable changes to all three railway lines running through Bexley.

The changes include:

• Withdrawal of all Charing Cross services on the Greenwich and Woolwich line
• Withdrawal of all off-peak and weekend services to Charing Cross on the Bexleyheath line
• Withdrawal of the round-the-loop service to Cannon Street on the Sidcup line and the Woolwich line
• Downgrading of Albany Park Station

These changes will negatively affect disabled residents, who will be required to make additional change trains for some journeys at stations without step-free access and residents who depart at Waterloo East to access St. Thomas Hospital. The withdrawal of the Woolwich/Sidcup loop line will see the end of direct services to the Elizabeth line at Abbey Wood from a number of stations, and the need for unnecessary changes at Dartford.

These changes may also have a negative impact on the environment and air pollution as there may be an increase in car journeys and congestion.

The operator, which was taken over by the government in 2021, has also faced significant funding cuts, which has meant that services are being reduced overall.

The failure of the government to effectively manage the rail network at this time has led to industrial action, worse services, and more frequent problems with infrastructure such as signalling failures and the result will be reduced services overall to residents in Bexley

Bexley Labour have expressed to Southeastern the concerns about the impact the cuts will have, as well as their disappointment that these plans have been put in place without any prior consultation. Rail users should be able to have a say before these changes are put in place.  

Given the service contract states that if proposed changes to the timetable represent a material alteration that a consultation exercise must take place and this consultation exercise must be signed off by the Secretary of State. We therefore call upon the Secretary of State to commit to her responsibilities within the contract and ensure adequate consultation takes place and the proposals are reviewed and amended.

Please sign and share this petition, demanding a consultation by Southeastern, and add any additional comments you might have below.