by Ruth Banks and Chris Denham

Train company Southeastern has come in for fierce criticism in the light of its decision to run a Saturday service today - Tuesday.

While the company hopes it will be a more robust timetable in the icy conditions, commuters who rely on trains in the normal timetable are furious, especially as peak fares are still being charged despite the reduction in service.

Railway companies are allowed certain 'opt outs' in the punctuality tables, and this icy period is almost certainly going to be one.

A spokesman from the company said that in order to combat overcrowding, the trains that do run will have more carriages. There will also be additional high-speed services and a shuttle service between London Bridge and Cannon Street at peak times.

But one commuter, who travels to Cannon Street from Whitstable, was left working from home as there are no trains to that terminus on Saturdays.

He said: "It illustrates how dependent I am on a service that can be altered or cancelled on a whim, or what looks like one. And it also shows up this confusion as to whether it's a public service or for profit.

"Having said that, what worked quite well last night, after all my Cannon Street trains were cancelled I was able to catch the slow train to Gillingham and then the High Speed train home."

Another said: "If they insist on running a Saturday service then at least have the courtesy to charge us as such, rather than still charging peak fares."

Audio: Southeastern's Sarah Boundy talks to reporter Ruth Banks

A spokesperson for Southeastern said: "Today is classed as a normal working day - whether someone travels peak or off peak is determined by the time of day and also by the day itself.

"Peak and off peak isn't something Southeastern decides - it's something that's common to all UK rail fares. So if passengers are travelling in the morning peak they'll be paying peak fares.

"A Saturday service has fewer trains than a usual weekday service, but where we can we are running longer trains and today has been a better service overall than the last few days.

"Over the last few days our passengers know that the service into London hasn't been very good - this is because in parts of Kent and East Sussex there has been ice on the conductor rail which has caused a problem for our trains."

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