Angry commuters have united against cuts to Central line services, slamming the change as “outrageous”.

Last Monday (August 8), Transport for London (TfL) slashed rush hour services on the Roding Valley to Leytonstone loop, removing three of six trains running between 7.30am and 8.30am.

Regular passengers have reacted with “fury”, saying they are forced to now stand for lengthy journeys on either their normal branch or by changing at Woodford.

Caroline Milton of Buckhurst Way has organised public opposition to TfL’s move.

She said the authority has treated passengers with “contempt” by failing to consult users or elected politicians over the change.

“The biggest problem with them not consulting is we have ended with a service that doesn’t work for the passengers,” said Mrs Milton, 47.

“We have lost the key rush hour services that the majority of people in the area depend on… it is not a logical or fair thing to do and they are hoping to introduce it by stealth: doing it during the summer holidays, and by the time people are back, they could feel it is too late to do anything.”

She added: “We are ordinary people just trying to get to work, and it has a knock-on effect on our work.

“I think it is just outrageous for them to treat us in a way which is so disrespectful… they are working against us, not with us.”

Roding Valley station, where people gathered to oppose TfL last night (August 16), is commonly named the least used on the Underground network.

However, Mrs Milton claimed it is busier than ever and said more services should be added to both Central line branches, not just one.

As rush hour services were cut, three were added to Leytonstone at 5.32am, 5.46am and 5.54am, but Mrs Milton said the services have been poorly used and are evidence of poor planning.

Local Green councillor Steven Neville has also opposed the changes, which Ilford North MP Wes Streeting called “unacceptable”.

“Trying to get on a train at Roding Valley at the removed times is difficult as they are often full and standing room only,” said Cllr Neville.

“TfL say that Buckhurst Hill to Epping is used by 10 times the people that Roding Valley to Grange Hill is.

“Well for starters they are comparing five stations with three, which is not comparable.”

He added: “We should be encouraging people to use this service, not making it more difficult.”

TfL repeatedly refused to answer questions about consultation on the plans.

A spokesman said the Epping to Leytonstone branch is “one of the busiest of the line” and needs extra services that will be introduced following the reduction on the other branch.

He added: “Over the next few years we will be investing £130million on our Central line trains which will improve their reliability and provide the high level of service that our customers deserve.”