Bracknell

Bracknell partygoers may have to turn in early on Christmas Eve, because South West Trains wants an early night.

Hundreds of Bracknell revellers head to the nightspots of Reading to celebrate the festive season, but one commuter was shocked to discover the last train back from the neighbouring town will be 9.12pm, arriving at 9.20pm.

The only other option would be to get a taxi back, which costs between £40 and £50 - something Ivan De-La-Plain is refusing to do.

The Bracknell, Holland Pines resident is one of many who will be travelling to Reading for Christmas Eve, and says he has had to reschedule his evening to fit in with the early end to running trains.

He fumed: "It is ridiculous. I have had to reschedule my whole evening because I am not going to pay £50 for a cab.

"It is one of the busiest nights of the year. We are asked to be responsible, not drink and drive and to use public transport.

"How can we use public transport if it isn't there? It is ridiculous. I have to see everyone I wanted to two hours earlier than intended because it seems they want us tucked up in bed with a cocoa by 10pm."

South West Trains spokeswoman Simone Spinks said: "We close down services by 11pm. If you think about it, if the service is going to get to Bracknell at 9.20pm, then the train would then go to the depot for the shutdown at 11pm."

She added that announcing the Christmas timetable early gives Bracknell people the opportunity to make plans in advance rather than at the last minute.

She added that services provided by all rail companies finish earlier on Christmas Eve, adding that the last South West Trains service arrived at the depot even earlier last year at 10pm.

ic Berkshire ~ Bracknell Dec 15 2005