LIB Dem councillor Malcolm Cowan is writing to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to complain about timetable changes which will leave Times Territory passengers worse off.

Changes are being made to the National Express East Coast service, which stops at Stevenage.

Currently trains depart to a variety of destinations, including Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

But a new timetable designed by the Office for Rail Regulation, to allow five fast trains an hour from King’s Cross, will dramatically reduce these long-distance services.

Other than one very early train to Newcastle, there will be one train per hour from Stevenage, to Leeds only.

Cllr Cowan, the party’s county transport spokesman, said: “One wonders exactly what planet some of these people live on.

“This is a major step backward for both business and leisure travellers who rely on Stevenage.

“My investigations show there has been minimal consultation about this dramatic change.”

He added his letters to Lord Adonis, and one to the rail regulator, would “demand a more sensible service”.