Plans to make permanent changes to 'lifeline' train services through the borough have been deferred.

South Western Railways (SWR) planned to introduce a new timetable in December, which would have effected services through St Margarets, Whitton, Hampton, Teddington, Mortlake and East Sheen.

The wide-ranging changes would also have applied to services in and out of Waterloo from Kingston, Norbiton, New Malden and Worcester Park.

The net effect of the decision to defer the changes is that services will largely remain at the current level – but for some small improvements – which is likely to result in overcrowding at peak times.

There is some confusion over whether the decision to defer the timetable changes due at the end of the year is good or bad news for passengers.

The two local MPs, Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson, argued the decision is positive for residents across the borough.

However, SWR today – Thursday - suggested that the December changes would have actually improved services. It said this 'timetable uplift' will not go ahead - largely because of cost concerns.

The number of people using SWR through the borough's stations has fallen by almost 30 per cent across the board since the pandemic and a major shift to working from home.

SWR is under increasing pressure from the government to cut its operating costs and reduce frequency on less profitable routes. 

Some £16 billion of taxpayer funds were used to support rail companies during the pandemic. Now the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, is demanding train operators focus on 'value for money', which will result in sweeping cuts to services.

Both Sarah Olney, the MP for Richmond Park, and Munira Wilson, who represents Twickenham, have condemned this pressure, challenging the government to look for hard data before making decisions that will affect whole communities. 

Sarah Olney said: "Changes do need to be made across the rail sector, but they have to be thought through. These routes aren't simply a service to be slashed, they are lifelines to families, friends, and jobs.

"We can't keep encouraging people to use their cars less while also slashing public transport. I know the government wants the sector to cut costs, but they must have some strategic vision. 

"Public transport is going to be even more vital as the country moves towards Net Zero and any cuts need to be considered incredibly carefully so they don't set us back on this path."

Munira Wilson said: "I'll continue to hold SWR to account on providing regular, reliable services that local residents need and deserve – and will press for a better service on the Hounslow Loop and Shepperton line in particular.

"We will keep fighting for the service that residents need and deserve."

Today, SWR suggested that travellers might be disappointed that the planned December timetable changes will not be implemented. It suggested the new timetable would have improved services, but that the lack of travellers meant it is not currently possible to go ahead.

The company said: "Over the past 12 weeks, SWR has seen its overall customer journeys stabilise at 70% of pre-Covid levels.

"While off peak travel has returned strongly to 100% of pre-Covid trips, commuters have been slower to return making just 53% of the peak journeys they did before the pandemic.

"In light of these figures and the ongoing cost challenge facing the rail industry, SWR, Network Rail and the Department for Transport have decided to defer the timetable changes set out in the December 2022 consultation.

"Instead, SWR will continue with its current service levels in December, with a limited number of targeted interventions to optimise services where demand has returned quickest.

"SWR and Network Rail will continue to monitor customer behaviour and act with agility to meet increased demand, subject to funding being agreed with the Department for Transport."

SWR's Managing Director, Claire Mann, said: "The Covid pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work, play and travel, and the long-term future of the railway depends on it adapting to the new normal.

"Our new business plan does just this, striking the right balance between reducing the cost to taxpayers, who have subsidised the railway to the tune of £16 billion since the start of the pandemic, and delivering the improvements our customers want to see.

"Alongside our business plan, we have made the joint decision with the Department for Transport and Network Rail to defer our planned December 2022 timetable changes.

"While we know this will come as a disappointment to some of our customers, we cannot justify spending taxpayers' money on a further timetable uplift while the number of commuter journeys sit at around 50% of pre-pandemic levels."

An SWR spokesman added: "The December 2022 changes would have represented an increase on current service levels, however they would have been a decrease from pre-pandemic levels."