A NEW timetable is being drawn up by rail operator c2c and commuter groups ahead of 24 new trains being introduced this year.

The National Express company recently brought forward by three years plans to expand its fleet in response to what many commuters have described as chronic overcrowding since a new timetable was introduced in November.

Numerous tweaks have been made since then in an effort to alleviate pressure on the line, but the operator is currently working with commuters to make more substantial changes once the new rolling stock is brought in.

James Savill, who runs the @c2c_customers account on Twitter, said he was enthusiastic about the talks.

He said: “For me it’s more about increasing the volume of carriages on the line and an additional service in the morning and the evening. I think we’re getting there, and c2c are trying to accommodate everybody as best they can.

“There’s a fine line between the utopia you want and the way in which they can fairly share everything evenly to all the different groups of people who use the service in different areas.

“My only concern at the moment is they’re thinking of introducing this timetable in December and I think they should push it back to January because it’s probably not the best time with all the disruption during the Christmas period.”

A c2c spokesman said: “We have some new carriages coming in from October, which will be in by the end of the year, so we will be amending the timetable to take full advantage of the extra flexibility that increased capacity gives us.

“The benefits need to be felt in all different parts of the route because want people want in Southend will not the same as what people want in Basildon or Thurrock, so we’re making sure they get the things they need.”

The new trains are being constructed by Bombardier in Derby and will feature 225 seats in each four-carriage train – 1,350 extra seats per week at peak time.

The seats will also be ten per cent wider than those on the line’s current trains.

Each four-carriage train will also have two toilets and two wheelchair areas, double the current number, while carriages will be fully air-conditioned and feature plug sockets enabling people to charge electronics such as laptops and smartphones.