THE spokesman for Haslemere’s train users group has branded the reduction of commuter trains by South West Trains over Christmas and New Year as a “disgrace”.

It looks like many rail users, in the words of the famous Chris Rea festive song will be Driving Home for Christmas to both Liphook and Haslemere as well as commuter stations in East Hampshire, after the train company announced plans for engineering works on Christmas Eve and over the New Year holiday.

The “major improvement” work is scheduled to take place between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction, starting on Saturday, December 24.

A disgruntled Martin Odell, secretary of Haslemere Rail Users’ Group said: “The disruption means the last train to Portsmouth from Waterloo on Christmas Eve, is at 7.52pm.

“There is no service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, engineering works over the next four days with no replacement bus service, and a Sunday service on New Year’s Eve.

“Many season ticket holders from Haslemere need to go into work between Christmas and New Year and it is a disgrace they are prevented from doing so.”

But while railway closures over Christmas and New Year, would impact on rail users said Mr Odell: “We are extremely grateful we are not covered by Southern.

Passengers on Southern services between West Sussex and London Bridge and Victoria have been blighted by strikes and delays for months.

Mr Odell added: “In a sense, we do have the same issue over the holiday period – namely a train-operating company not serving passengers properly and the Department for Transport powerless to do anything about it.

“The same applies to South West Trains routinely running short-formation services during the day, which often means trains are full by Haslemere.”