PASSENGERS have been left frustrated following a reduction in train services, which will see no direct Greater Anglia services between Walton and Colchester town station.

The operator has announced it will be running 74 per cent of services compared to the pre-pandemic timetable due to fewer passengers.

A number of services have been affected the decision was taken to no longer have  a service from Walton or Clacton to Colchester Town Station.

Instead trains would go directly to Colchester North station.

A shuttle service would then operating between the two stations, but passengers say this adds extra time and cost to their journey.

As a result Greater Anglia says from Monday January 24 the service will be reinstated. 

One rail user said: “All users, former users we must now say, of the Walton to Colchester Town service and those from Clacton for Colchester Town will now have to walk from North Station to wherever they need to get to in town, for example, schools in Lexden Road.

“It is needless to say the shuttle times to and from town do not fit with the Clacton train times, so you have to sit for half an hour at North Station if you don’t want to walk.”

Some services were withdrawn during the first lockdown.

But the train user said: “That was a heavy lockdown with only tiny numbers of people travelling, whereas now there are no restrictions on travel at all.”

Steph Maltby added: “Those using the service will also have to pay to backtrack to Colchester Town if they use the shuttle train between the two stations.

“This now makes the journey more expensive, time consuming and does not encourage the use of public transport.

“We use it a lot to reduce the use of the car so it may also have a negative impact on businesses in the town centre.”

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said: “Passenger numbers have fallen again in recent weeks and are currently at 40 to 50 per cent of pre pandemic levels.

“We are monitoring the situation daily and listening to customer feedback, to see if any adjustments to services are appropriate.

“Our aim is always to provide the best possible and most efficient service recognising the significant taxpayer support the rail industry continues to receive.

“We will communicate any further changes to customers and look forward to the point at which it’s appropriate to add more services back into the timetable again. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the service alterations.”