MPs and Council leaders have called on South Western Railway to reverse cuts in services that come into effect today - Monday.

The changes to timetables have hit key workers, including teachers and NHS workers, and children trying to get to school.

The cuts mean that some 28per cent of pre-pandemic train services are not running and there is no indication when they will be restored.

The branch line from Shepperton to Fulwell and Hampton towards Waterloo has been particularly hard hit with the result there is only one train departing for central London per hour.

The Richmond Park MP, Sarah Olney, has written to the company demanding train services are restored.

The Twickenham Munira Wilson MP and Council leader Gareth Roberts have also written a joint letter to the company and are calling for talks to try and reverse the cuts.

SWR is blaming the cut on staff absence caused the Omicron variant of Covid, however critics say the real reason is a shortage of trains because of cuts in investment in rolling stock.

At the same time, the arrival of replacement trains, - the Class 701 Arterio - is some two years late and there is no sign that they will be going into service any time soon.

Miss Olney said: "Like many of my constituents, I'm concerned this will mean an even worse service at a time when London cases are actually falling."

She questioned the reasons given for the cuts, writing: "I would like to query whether the consolidated timetable is actually necessary, given that in London at least, it appears that cases have peaked are on their way down?

"My constituents…do not have the luxury of flexibility as it pertains to arriving at work and making healthcare appointments."

The joint letter from Munira Wilson and Council leader, Cllr Gareth Roberts, states they have been 'shocked' by the cuts.

They wrote: "We implore you to reverse this rushed and unjustified decision.

'As London is slowly coming out of the Omicron peak, with Plan B restrictions due to be reviewed later this month, the timing of this change seems odd at best.

"Key workers and others who cannot work from home, school pupils and student are dependent on local rail service.

"Many others rely on them to get to important medical appointments, provide care for dependants and visit family.

"Trains will be more over-crowded due to the reduced frequency, which will make them less safe with Covid still circulating."

SWR's Managing Director, Claire Mann, said: "Prior to the outbreak of the most recent coronavirus variant, the delay to the Arterio roll-out had created a challenging situation on parts of our network and I'd like to apologise to our customers and thank them for their patience during this testing time.

"I want to assure our customers that we have comprehensive short, medium and long-term plans in place to really get to grips with this challenge and protect customer journeys once people again return to the railway."