DISGRUNTLED commuters should expect train services to be back on track from January 8, according to train operator Connex.

Services running through Bromley and Orpington should be full steam ahead, although there are still some delays around Tunbridge Wells and Hastings according to a Connex spokesman.

Bromley commuters were among those most affected by the train chaos following track repairs to railway lines after the crash at Hatfield, last year.

Bromley Council co-leader, Chris Maines, told the News Shopper that Railtrack should have given more consideration to the needs of passengers.

"I commuted for 20 years and I think it has got worse, there is a lack of information and nobody appears to know what is happening."

He pointed out local commuters relied on the fast Kent services to run on time otherwise the knock-on effect caused delays to suburban trains.

Speed restrictions still in place at Hastings will cause problems for residents in Orpington and Chelsfield who use the service.

Railtrack introduced speed restrictions because it feared lines were unsafe but its decision was criticised by passengers for delays and cancellation of services, including routes through Bromley and Orpington.

A Connex spokesman said: "Many of the speed restrictions affected commuters in the London areas and this included those on the Orpington and the Dartford line."

Railtrack has been set an Easter deadline for restoring services to normal across the country but passengers fear services will remain disrupted until May, this year.

It faces multi-million pound fines if it fails to produce detailed plans of its repairs for train and freight operators so they can introduce more reliable timetables by January 18.

Railtrack chief executive, Steve Marshall has guaranteed the company will meet the target and predicted the company will restore normal services by Easter.

It promised 85 per cent of trains will be running normally by the end of this month.