A petition against "disastrous" plans to scrap some train services in south-east London has been backed by more than 4,500 people as it nears its halfway goal.

The Department of Transport announced proposals at the end of last year which involve a number of cuts to lines, as well as ambitious improvements.

A petition was quickly launched to stop Victoria trains being cut from the Bexleyheath line, and it has been signed by nearly 5,000 people.

Once a petition reaches 10,000, the government is forced to respond.

The petition states that: "Cutting these services would be a disaster for commuters in areas like Bexleyheath, Welling, Blackheath, Eltham, Kidbrooke and elsewhere who do not have access to the DLR or the Underground, so have to depend on the rail network."

Rail minister Paul Maynard said the next operator of the South Eastern franchise will be targeted with providing a 40,000-capacity increase through longer and more modern trains.

The next operator must also introduce a new smart ticketing system, including a pay-as-you-go pilot, under the plans which will be implemented from 2022.

The DfT said: "South Eastern services carry 640,000 passenger journeys a day, and will soon need to integrate seamlessly with future Thameslink and Crossrail services to transform the way people travel across London and the south east.

"More than 10,000 responses were received for the department’s consultation on the future of South Eastern. The department has listened closely to passengers and South Eastern trains will still travel to the same London stations as at present including Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street."

The changes are subject to another consultation on detailed timetable proposals.

As well as the cuts on the Bexleyheath lines, the DoT is proposing the following changes:

- On the Hayes line, trains will no longer run to Cannon Street - calling instead at London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross and Victoria.

- North Kent services to Charing Cross via Lewisham will instead run to London Bridge and Cannon Street, to facilitate Thameslink.

- On the Sidcup line, services to Cannon Street will only run during peak times, with passengers needing Cannon Street having to change at London Bridge.

Meanwhile, a new half-hour service between Crayford and Victoria will run on the Sidcup line to meet increasing demand.

Passengers on the Bexleyheath line will have more trains going to London Bridge and Charing Cross, with space for an extra 10,000 passengers.