RUSH-HOUR commuters will not benefit from plans to add an extra 1,400 seats to c2c trains until the late autumn at the earliest - because of more Network Rail delays.
Timetable changes on the Shoebury to Fenchurch Street line, were supposed to come in this May, bringing with them the use of longer trains.
But the firm says the changes - and the longer trains will have to wait at least six months because Network Rail has yet to start lengthening the platform at Grays station.
The rail infrastructure firm - recently fined a record £14million for letting engineering work overrun over the festive season - was supposed to have started at Grays last month.
The work is essential to allow new eight-carriage trains to be able to stop at the station.
At the moment it can only take trains half that length.
Rebecca Richardson, spokesman for c2c, said: "Network Rail has deferred building an extension to the Grays station platform and we are not confident they will be able to deliver that in time for the new timetable in May.
"We hope come December, when the next timetable is due out, we will be able to implement the changes then.
"We hope then to be able to offer additional peak services around the loop and through Grays.
"There may be some tweaks for the May timetable, but no significant changes."
Peter Slattery, co-chairman of Southend Rail Travellers' Association, said: "The changes at Grays will benefit the whole c2c network, not just the Tilbury line, as it will make turnaround of trains much quicker.
"But when we had a meeting with c2c in January, we said we doubted it would be done on time and we were proved right.
"Everyone knows how slowly the industry works."
Kate Snowden, spokesman for Network Rail, said it was anticipated the extension work would now be done in April and May, though a final date had not been set.
She said: "We are going through plans with c2c to find out when the work can begin with the least amount of disruption to passengers.
"It will mean we will have to replace some weekend services with buses, but it will be of significant benefit to a lot of people who hopefully will see the light at the end of the tunnel."
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