PASSENGERS complained of being left stranded after off-peak train services were cancelled as part of a trial to improve reliability.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Southern services, has reinstated the trains following complaints.

Commuters contacted The Argus about cancelled off-peak trains between Preston Park Station and London Bridge.

Some passengers were advised that the 10am, 10.32am and 11am trains were all cancelled last week.

One commented that services between Brighton and London Victoria were unaffected.

GTR said the amended service was trialled because of the leaf fall season but that it would now revert back because conditions had improved.

A spokeswoman said: "Due to poor punctuality in the autumn we wanted to see whether we could remove trains to improve reliability.

"For the services we took away, we put some additional stops in to other services to compensate.

"Although there was some success we have put them back in until the December 13 permanent timetable changes."

The move was carried out at what the service admits was fairly short notice, at the request of Network Rail.

The cuts were advertised on the Southern website on Sunday, November 22, and began the following day for a week. They reverted to normal yesterday (MON).

The new timetable from December 13 includes the retention of four non-stop Gatwick Express services each hour between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria, two of which will be extended to Brighton in the off-peak.

The new timetable can be seen here at southernrailway.com/december2015.