c2c's new timetable starts on a high

c2c introduced its new weekday timetable on Monday (20 May), when 100% of morning and evening peak trains met or exceeded the punctuality target. This achievement was repeated on Wednesday 23 May, with Tuesday's peak service showing 96% punctuality.

All day punctuality was 97.5% Monday, 97% on Tuesday and 94% on Wednesday.

The timetable, which will run until December, has additional weekday services, particularly for Thurrock, and all late night trains will now depart from Fenchurch Street instead of some departing from Liverpool Street. A new Liverpool Street -Barking shuttle has also been introduced.

Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: We have worked hard to ensure that the new summer timetable delivers continued punctuality as well as enhanced services. With 100% peak punctuality on two out of the first three days and all day punctuality at 94% or above for the same three days, the results point to a very successful start. There are already a number of benefits for key areas such as Thurrock and Laindon and we will now be studying the timetable and our resources to see whether of not any further enhancements are possible. At the same time we will be concentrating on maintaining the levels of punctuality that have made c2c the best-performing rail route in the country.

Adrian Brown, Chairman of the Thurrock Rail Users' Group (TRUG) said: We are delighted with the improvements on offer from c2c's latest timetable, which started this week (20/5/07). Without upsetting the operationally robust and reliable central structure of the existing timetable, c2c have made some very beneficial enhancements for Thurrock, by better use of existing trains and track capacity, in advance of platform lengthening works expected over coming years.

For early commuters from Chafford and Ockendon, their trains now go through to London instead of just shuttling to Upminster. Other Thurrock stations benefit from an additional train, and shorter intervals (down from maximum 24 minutes to typically 12 and 18 minutes) in the latter half of the morning peak, as well as a corresponding extra homeward service at the beginning of the evening peak.