COMMUTERS and politicians are uniting against plans to cut rail services.

Trains running from Eltham station into central London could be slashed from 22 to 16 during peak hours and from six to four off peak if rail chiefs' plans are adopted.

Documents issued by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) outlining what services should be provided by bidders for the route have revealed the changes for the first time.

Eltham's Conservative councillor Spencer Drury and angry commuters, already frustrated at over-crowding and poor service, have started a petition to force the SRA to reissue the guidelines.

Cllr Drury, who is also the Tory party parliamentary candidate for Eltham, said: "I can't see a reason for decreasing the service. This is a new tender and you'd think the SRA's aim would be to improve the service.

"Other lines aren't experiencing this level of cuts and I don't see why Eltham should suffer."

Despite three consultations on the planned service on the route, the cut in trains through Eltham has not been mentioned before.

Commuters want to know why late changes were made.

Dundegan Road resident Stephen Donohoe, 36, who has been commuting from Eltham station for eight years, says the planned cuts have been made on a whim.

The customer service manager who works in the City said: "My trains have been cut to just 16 an hour while my wife's journey to Victoria will mean her changing at Lewisham, which is never a nice experience.

"These trains are already overcrowded but the SRA sees fit to ruin people's lives on a whim."

Eltham MP Clive Efford is "furious" at the plans and is lobbying the SRA and ministers.

Greenwich Council has told the SRA it believes the plans would be detrimental to the borough.

The SRA says it has noted concerns and is reviewing the plans.