C2C has announced it is entering talks to get more carriages from another train company - and giving away two free days travel to season ticket holders - as it bows to pressure from angry commuters. 

The train company says it has "reached agreement in principle" with another train operator to lease additional carriages to provide extra capacity on c2c at peak times.

Because of the disruption passengers have faced in recent weeks as the new timetable settles, c2c is offering c2c season ticket holders a cash apology worth the equivalent of two days’ free travel. This means those who buy the most expensive tickets will be able to claim up to £30. Full details of how to claim will be made available online in the next few days.

The timetable is set to change again from Monday, January 18. 

Carriages will be leased from another operator, which c2c hasn't named, until delivery of the brand new trains that c2c is already contracted to deliver from 2019.

c2c Managing Director Julian Drury said: “We want to provide our customers with a better train service than anyone else in the UK, despite the soaring demand we have seen. Both south Essex and east London are areas of huge growth. They are our home area, and they matter enormously to us. We are trying to modernise our service to support this economic success story, and to provide the transport infrastructure that the local communities need.

“We know that the first major changes to the c2c timetable in a decade have been disruptive for many people, particularly during the evening peak. We appreciate their patience, and we are sorry for the unsettling impact this has had, which is why we’re offering our season ticket holders a cash apology. We are continuing to do everything we can to provide as many seats and as much capacity as possible for our passengers.”

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The following trains will be lengthened from 8 to 12 carriages:

  • 07.18 service from Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street, which calls at all stations to Chalkwell and then fast to West Ham and Fenchurch Street 
  • 17.16 service from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, which now stop at Laindon, an additional stop at Basildon, then all stations from Chalkwell
  • 17.46 service from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, which will call at all stations to Upminster, then Laindon and all stations from Chalkwell
  • 18.04 service from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, which calls at all stations via Laindon

The following trains will increase from 4 to 8 carriages:

  • 16.28 from Fenchurch Street to Leigh-on-Sea via Laindon
  • 17.25 from Fenchurch Street to Grays via Ockendon
  • 18.19 from Fenchurch Street to Southend Central via Laindon 

Other services which are less busy will be amended to provide these longer services, with a full list of changes available at www.c2c-online.co.uk/travel-information/timetables-trains/timetable-adjustments/.

The stopping patterns of the remaining busiest trains will be also be amended from Monday 18 January, to ensure that the most crowded services no longer stop at all London stations:

The following services from Fenchurch Street will no longer call at West Ham:

  • 17.28; 17.43

The following services from Fenchurch Street will no longer call at Barking:

  • 17.01; 17.13; 17.31; 17.58; 18.01; 18.13; 18.28