The News Shopper asked how people were finding the new Southeastern timetable changes, and from “frightening congestion” to not travelling into London – here’s what they said.

Abbey Wood commuter Jayne Stringer spoke about the impact the new changes are having on her social life due to her mobility needs.

She described how having to change at London Bridge has caused discomfort and has become a deterrent from traveling to central London.

Jayne said: “I have mobility issues, and this is stripping me going into Central London to meet friends as much.

“It’s not worth the effort having to change at London Bridge especially on the way home when I am in a lot of pain already - there can be up to a 20-minute wait.

“I and many others need Abbey Wood to Charing Cross direct train back”.

Saskia Barron claims the changes have added to the already busy commutes, causing normally quieter stations earlier in the line to be congested.

She explained: “Packed trains even from stations earlier along the line.

“The trains before were completely fine and busy enough.”

In addition, Kirsty Carter who uses the Hayes to London Bridge line, claims that the journey has become increasingly busy with less space on the platform and carriages.

Kirsty wrote: “The congestion on the platforms coming home from London Bridge to Hayes is frightening.

“There are too many people for the space”.

For some, the new timetable changes have brought about disruptions to school runs and evening trips into central London.

Danielle Shoults described crowded carriages and poor connections at London Bridge causing upheaval to commuters.

Danielle added: “No direct trains Charing Cross to Bexleyheath during school pick up times so having to get across to Victoria or change.

“If going out in the evening the connection from London Bridge leaves the station one minute before the train from Charing Cross gets in.

“Going from Victoria at 2:30pm-3:00pm the trains have 4 coaches and packed every single day”.

Christopher Mangalaparathy said: “Was meant to be more and more reliable trains from Bexleyheath.

“However, they are still delayed, cancelled, less or equal trains per hour and no more trains an hour.

“So many people are now heading to Abbey Wood/Woolwich and using the Elizabeth line instead”.

Others are calling for direct lines into central London stations like Cannon Street to be reinstated, claiming that the mandatory change at London bridge is adding time to commutes.

Nikki Andrews explained: “Definitely not a fan of timetable change, we need Hayes to Cannon Street back.

“Changing at London Bridge isn’t fun, so I walk, but it adds time to my commute”.

Wendy Mann said “It certainly hasn’t improved the service and putting many people off travelling into London for meet ups, restaurants & theatres.

“I don’t want to change trains especially when travelling alone”.

Pauline Hallet said: “Putting many people off (especially us older generation) from going into town for shows and evenings out in general, because of having to change trains late at night to come home.”

According to Southeastern, the timetable changes were implemented to reduce “congestion at busy junctions”, including Lewisham to ensure “better punctuality” and “fewer cancelations”.

However, Nicola Wood claims that the changes have had the opposite effect and that congestion at Lewisham Station has increased.

She explained: “The service is worse than it has ever been, trains are constantly delayed.

“The number of trains in the Woolwich line appears to have been slashed whilst it feels as though there are more than ever to Lewisham”.

Katerina Urquhar, who uses the Sidcup line, claims that the changes have caused delays and crowded carriages on the evening commute.

She claimed she was stranded at Lewisham Station for over half an hour after her train changed destinations.

Katerina said: “Every train I've caught for the last two weeks has been delayed and standing room only by the time the Sidcup line gets to New Eltham people haven't been able to get on.

“Last week coming home my train from London Bridge was delayed it was rammed after coming in from Charing Cross.

“We got as far as Lewisham before they chucked us all off with no information saying the train was no longer going via Sidcup.

“Sidcup line trains don't stop much at Lewisham now so the next one on the board wasn’t for another 35 minutes”.

Southeastern has apologised to customers for delays and disruptions in their services, but claim they remain optimistic that the new timetable will improve travel for passengers.

Customers who experience over 15 minutes of delays are being advised to make a compensation claim on the Southeastern website.

The full Southeastern statement says: “We're sorry that our services have been disrupted, overcrowded or unreliable over the past two weeks.

“It isn't the service we planned and it isn't the service that you deserve.

“Teething issues with our new timetable have been made worse by too many infrastructure failures- today's multiple points failures have again caused disruption.

“We're still confident that the new timetable will make things better for you, and we are seeing improved weekend and off-peak performance than before, but we need strong performance all the time.

We are listening to customer feedback, monitoring how busy our trains are and taking action to improve punctuality and reliability.

“Both of our organisations are working together round the clock to drive up performance and improve your railway.

“If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or more, please make sure you claim Delay Repay by visiting southeasternrailway.co.uk/delayrepay”.