MAJOR changes are set to be made to London Underground's Metropolitan Line timetable next month and the news has met with a mixed reaction from south west Hertfordshire commuters.

Off-peak London Underground trains from Watford to London will increase from four to six per hour, but will only go as far as Baker Street.

Off-peak trains from Amersham into London, which stop at Rickmansworth and Chorleywood, will be reduced from four to two per hour.

The trains from Amersham will not stop at some stations, and commuters travelling from Rickmansworth or Chorleywood, to stations such as North Harrow and Northwood will have to change at Moor Park. The Amersham line will continue to be serviced by Chiltern Railways trains.

The new timetable will come into effect on Sunday, May 20.

A spokesman for London Underground said: "The changes will benefit the great majority of Metropolitan Line users, who will have a more frequent and regular service. At the moment, if there are blips in the service we find it difficult to recover. These changes will offer a more streamline service."

Watford MP Claire Ward welcomed the move.

She said: "This is very good news. It is recognising there is a real need for additional services in the area, and will give people in Watford more choice when travelling into London.

"My constituents are going to be better served by this, and it recognises Watford is an important place on the travel map."

However, Mr Phil Glazebrook, chairman of the Watford Rail Users Group, said: "We would welcome a service every ten minutes but it will be slightly inconvenient for people having to change at Finchley Road to get all the way into London.

"It is not an improvement if you have to go all the way to Aldgate."

He added: "It is also going to be inconvenient for people who are going to have to change at Moor Park."

South West Hertfordshire MP Richard Page criticised the lack of notice about the change.

He said: "It is extraordinarily discourteous to give four weeks notice of these changes.

"My constituency will be losing out, and, given it is a heavy commuting area, I would like the reasons why such a change has been made.

"There are certain advantages in parts of the scheme but this is typical of a state-controlled organisation.

"It is a case of, 'here's what we are going to do and do not ask any questions'."

The reduction in the Amersham service was condemned at a meeting of Three Rivers District Council on Tuesday. Councillors agreed to write to London Underground to express its concerns.

Councillor Martin Trevett, cabinet member for physical environment, said: "This represents a real diminution of the service.

"We have just been informed this is happening, and I think this is disgraceful behaviour."

The council is writing to London Underground to express its concern at the change.