Southeastern trains for Deptford, Kidbrooke, Maze Hill, Charlton, Woolwich Dockyard, Westcombe Park affected by London Olympics

RAIL users, politicians and councillors are united in their fury at proposals by Southeastern to slash services during the Olympics.

The proposed weekday changes will operate from July 28 to August 12 and include the complete closure of Woolwich Dockyard station - to avoid spectators confusing it with Woolwich Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Deptford, Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, Charlton, and Kidbrooke could all face reduced services.

Southeastern claims the changes, only made public after being published by the 853 blog, are necessary to run a reliable service while meeting demand from spectators and are required due to a clause in its contract.

But Greenwich Council has condemned the plans in its response to the company’s consultation.

Councillor Denise Hyland said: "The current proposals cannot be supported and fail to protect the interests of both residents and businesses, and show a lack of understanding of the importance of tourism to the economy of the borough."

The Charlton Rail Users Group has labelled the reductions “perverse”.

In a letter to Southeastern, they wrote: “It appears to us that dropping station calls and closing Woolwich Dockyard has more to do with reducing the risk of Southeastern incurring financial penalties for late running than making the service easier for passengers to use.”

Lewisham and Deptford MP has also written to the company. She said: “I know that my constituents will not want to see any reduction in services that they depend upon for work and their social lives.”

She added: “This is very much at odds with what’s been my intention and theirs, which is to increase footfall at Deptford station.”

Elsewhere, the Westcombe Society and transport watchdog London Travelwatch have objected. Chairwoman of the London Assembly Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon says her committee was not consulted and she has raised “serious concerns”.

Final approval is needed by the Olympic Delivery Authority and Transport for London.

A Southeastern spokesman said smaller stations with lower footfall were chosen for the cutbacks.

He added that discussions about potential compensation to season ticket holders had not yet taken place.

Planned reductions

Deptford