Update 09/03/2008
 

c2c have just announced that they are to defer the improvements outlined below until December 2008.

The changes to the timetable were wholly dependant on Network Rail being able to complete the extension to Grays platform 3 by the start of the proposed timetable in May. However, following a review, c2c judged Network Rails plans to be too ambitious for delivery within that timescale. Whilst we are disappointed that Thurrock Commuters must wait longer for long overdue improvements to services, we are pleased that c2c have been upfront about the delays and given plenty of notice of the deferal.

**********************************************************************

c2c have recently announced details of the forthcoming May 2008 timetable. Significant improvements to Thurrock Services are planned in this new timetable, which can be attributed to the extension of Grays platform 3 from 4 car to 8 car length. This extension allows a number of services to be turned back to London more easily at Grays, rather than at present these services travelling on to Pitsea as empty stock, or with minimal passengers onboard.

A summary of the changes are as follows:

* The 6.10am from Shoebury would call at Limehouse, while the 6.48am and 6.53am from Shoebury will call at West Ham

* The 6.56am from Pitsea, via Rainham would depart at 6.55am and call at West Ham

* A new 6.55am service from Leigh, with eight carriages, calling at Benfleet, Pitsea, Basildon, Barking and Limehouse

* The 6.54am from Grays, via Chafford Hundred, would be an eight-carriage service

* The 7.02am from Pitsea, via Chafford Hundred, would instead start from Southend Central at 6.44am, calling at all stations to Pitsea

* The 3.27pm from Fenchurch Street would terminate at Southend Central, instead of Leigh and also call Chalkwell and Westcliff

* The 5.18pm from Fenchurch Street to Southend Central, via Basildon, would be diverted via Chafford Hundred and terminate at Pitsea

* The 5.20pm from Fenchurch Street to Thorpe Bay would be a 12-carriage service

* The 6.02pm from Fenchurch Street to Pitsea, via Chafford Hundred, would be extended to Leigh

* The 6.33pm from Fenchurch Street to Grays, via Chafford Hundred would be eight carriages, not four.

These changes were brought about in consultation with the users groups on the line, and members on our distribution list were given the opportunity to comment on an early draft of this new timetable.

One outstanding issue is the need for more calls at West Ham. c2c are currently unable to stop any more services at this station, due to poor signal spacing. Long time users on the line will recall that West Ham was built shortly after the line was resignalled in the mid 90's. Current plans are that Barking-Limehouse will be resignalled during 2009, with the next major changes to the timetable, including more stops at West Ham, following in either the December 2009 or May 2010 timetable updates.

Following on from this, current outline plans in Network Rail's Route Strategy indicate that Thurrock platforms should be lengthened around 2012 to allow 12 car trains to call at all Thurrock Stations.