A watchdog today warned of a return to the misery line as more service cuts were revealed on c2c.

The company was criticised for taking two more trains out of service from early next month on top of withdrawing four trains just three months ago.

Four class 357 Electrostar four-coach units were transferred to the West Coast Mainline in May, and now c2c has announced a further two trains will be making the same journey on September 6.

Among the services being hit by the cuts will be the 7.12am Thorpe Bay to Fenchurch Street, which is being shortened from 12 to eight carriages.

Peter Slattery, Southend Rail Travellers' Association chairman, said: "Passengers had to suffer the misery line tag a while ago, but now c2c is a line people look up to.

"I think passengers are thinking it could be the misery line again."

Published Friday August 27, 2004

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