Kent's
train timetables will get a much-needed shake-up on
May 23 - but many passengers will complain that changes
don't go far enough.

The massive recasting of timetables to
accommodate high-speed trains last December was the biggest
change to railways in the county since electrification was
completed in 1961.

But not everyone was happy, with Maidstone and Malling
losing all their Cannon Street trains.

A campaign group set up to fight for those services has
since lost five of its original committee, forced to sell-up
and move away to keep working.

And that is not going to change on May 23, with most changes
simple retimings to make connections more robust.

Southeastern also says that some trains will be lengthened
and others shortened to reflect demand.

Felipe Alvia-Baquero of the Malling District Rail Travellers Association said: "It's ludicrous because we weren't consulted at all.

"We were promised that it would be a proper review.

"The Department for Transport promised that it was going to be a
proper review of the timetable but it clearly wasn't.

"The area as a whole is suffering economically because of
this.

"Now we are just hoping that there's a change of Government and
we are organising the next campaign."

Major changes to the timetable, as required by Maidstone's
commuters, come from the DFT, not Southeastern, which can advise
but is mainly concerned with running the trains it is told to.

The main points of the May
23 changes include:

• Various services retimed a few minutes earlier or later to make connections more robust, including the 0720 Strood to Paddock Wood, leaving two minutes earlier to connect with the 0806 Paddock Wood to Charing Cross train.
• Westgate and Chestfield & Swalecliffe gain more services, including two direct trains to Cannon Street in the morning peak - the 0625 and 0651 Broadstairs - Cannon Street, which leaves Ramsgate five minutes earlier. Additionally, the 1708 Cannon Street - Ramsgate train will call at both stations on its way east and the 0512 Ramsgate - Victoria train will also call at the stations.
• Selling gains no fewer than six trains in the evening peak -with the 1615, 1719, 1819, 2015, 2115 and 2215 Faversham- Doverservices calling at the village. Bekesbourne loses two trains, the1719 and 1819 Faversham - Dover services.
• Staying on that line, the 0645 Dover-Faversham train will leaveearlier to make a connection with the Cannon St train in Faversham,and the 0717 Faversham-Dover will leave 12 minutes earlier forstudents needing to catch the 0749 Dover-Sandwich train.
• Orpington gains three new trains in the evening: the 2110, 2210and 2310 Charing Cross departures will call on their way to thecoast.
• Orpingtonalso gets a direct service to Bedford, leavingat 1734 and calling at Petts Wood, Bickley, Bromley South,Beckenham Junction, Elephant and Castle and stations north.

All times given are at the originating point.

For more details go to www.southeasternrailway.co.uk