Angry commuters looking for a better deal will campaign by email to Southeastern for improvements to its emergency timetable.

Around 50 users of the high-speed trains gathered in the Bohemian in Beach Street, last night to discuss the disruption to the service from Deal caused by damage to the sea wall and track between Dover and Folkestone.

They agreed to send emails to the decision makers with their suggestions.

Tom Rowland, of Trains 4 Deal, who led the protest meeting with former councillor Ian Killbery, said: “Over the last week and a half Southeastern’s system has proved to be pretty slow, cumbersome and dire for the people that use it. It’s not necessary that it should be this bad.

“We will not accept that it is because there are no signals, drivers or trains. There are slots.”

Normally Deal and Sandwich would have five morning peak high-speed trains to St Pancras.

In Southeastern’s emergency timetable, four of those trains now start from Folkestone, but one starts from Ashford.

Mr Rowland and Mr Killbery suggested that the train from Ashford could start earlier from Dover and run via the Minster Loop, calling at Martin Mill, Walmer, Deal, Sandwich and Canterbury West.

Commuters, who voiced their anger about poor communications, the timing of replacement bus services and problems with the connection of the shuttle service to the fast train at Ramsgate, agreed to support their suggestion and would email Southeastern bosses.

For some, the journey to and from London has taken as long as three hours compared to the former 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Claire Morgan, who described the emergency timetable as unintelligible, said: “I moved to Deal two years ago because of the HS1 service and I gave my employers an undertaking that it wouldn’t affect my work, but now it is.”

Roger Sparks, of Grange Road, said he continues to live in Deal because of the high speed service.

He said: “I’ve had mixed experiences so far. Southeastern are making a good attempt but they need to do their homework.”

Matt Ford, who relocated from Florida to Deal in 2013, said he would sell his home and move if the service did not improve.

Mr Rowland said: “We battled for four years to get the fast trains and we didn’t give up and we won’t give up again. No matter what happens we’ll keep fighting.”

MP Charlie Elphicke could not attend the meeting. He told KentOnline: “I’ve pressed Southeastern trains on using the Minster Loop to have a direct fast train to St Pancras and to look at the trains they have available and I’m seeking to set up a public meeting with railway users, Southeastern and Network Rail so that all ideas can be put to the rail companies and rail chiefs can be pressed on the trains that are available and what routes they can take.”

For more information or to find out how you can help to campaign, visit www.trains4deal.com