Thousands of commuters are urging Transport for London to scrap an “unacceptable” decision to reduce peak-time Central line Tube services.
Customers have been told that services between Debden, Theydon Bois and Epping stations at the eastern end of the Central line are to be cut by two trains per hour as it begins a “modernisation programme” of the ageing fleet.
TfL plans to withdraw trains to install CCTV cameras, wheelchair bays and new motors to improve reliability.
It says each train upgrade will take “a few weeks”, and in order to keep services running on the busiest parts of the line in central London, services east of Leytonstone will be sacrificed.
But, TfL said, the upgrade is likely to take “a number of years”, which has left passengers furious at a cut in trains from the busy commuter belt stations. A petition calling on TfL to scrap the plans has gained more than 7,000 signatures in four days.
Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing said: “I am appalled and very concerned about these proposed changes. I have asked London Underground to reconsider and I will continue to fight alongside my constituents to overturn this.”
Holly Whitbread, a member of Epping Forest district council, said the “significant reduction” had to be reviewed urgently. She said: “Without consultation, TfL have announced a significant reduction in services at peak times between Epping to Debden.
“This will have a hugely negative effect on the already stretched Tube service running at these stations.”
The loop services between Hainault and Woodford are also being reduced to a shuttle service with shorter trains adding to congestion at Woodford in the mornings, Ms Whitbread said.
Laura Davidson, 29, an audio producer from Harlow, who has commuted into central London from Epping for the past 10 years, said: “I’m not sure how reducing the service from a considerably busy station is improving anything. I’m late to work almost every day as it is… I pay £10.20 a day to get to and from work, so if I get two less trains, I’d like to pay two less pounds.”
In an email to customers, TfL said the new timetable would deliver “an enhanced service on the busiest section of the Central line”.
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A TfL spokesman said: “We have tried hard to minimise the impact to customers but recognise that some people will need to amend their journeys while we complete this important work.”
