Timetable changes anger commuters

Some commuters in the East Midlands are upset by a train timetable change that will leave them without rush-hour services for six months.

On 15 December, two early evening services from Nottingham to Bottesford in Leicestershire will be axed.

East Midlands Trains (EMT) has admitted it made a mistake but cannot reinstate the service until May 2009.

The firm said it "recognises the concerns felt by Bottesford residents over the new timetable".

Shuttle bus

"We are planning to reinstate stops on services leaving Nottingham at around 17.50 and 18.50 at the first possible opportunity, which will be at the next timetable change in May 2009," a statement said.

The stops will be reinstated subject to Network Rail approval.

An EMT spokesman said it was not possible to reinstate the stops before May 2009 as that would involve changing the times of other services.

Commuters said the new timetable meant some passengers would be left stranded until late at night as there was no direct bus service either.

Some 40,000 passengers used the route in 2006-2007, up 9,000 from the previous year.

Commuter Andy MacDonald, who has sold his car and wants to travel by train, said: "After December 15th we are all going to be stranded."

He called for a shuttle bus to be provided until the service was reinstated.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "Our priority is to get people off the roads to reduce congestion into big cities like Nottingham so I will be investigating this."