South Western Railway has announced that it will be reducing the number of services operating from Monday 23rd March.
More of SWR's staff are having to follow advice to stay at home unwell and self-isolate for up to 14 days.
By reducing the number of services, it means that the operator can ensure a reliable service for passengers.
Some alterations to services will continue in the meantime due to last-minute cancellations from staff being unavailable.
The new timetable can be found here.
What did the officials say?
Mark Hopwood, SWR's Managing Director, said:
“We've decided to operate a revised ‘Key Worker' timetable from Monday 23 March onwards.
“With the Government advising people only to travel if it's essential, and with some of our team needing to follow advice and self-isolate, running fewer trains means we can offer a more reliable timetable that still gets key workers, such as doctors and nurses, to and from work.
“The outbreak has put the country in a unique place, but it's vital our industry helps its day-to-day running. Our colleagues are working hard to ensure services are running so passengers who can't stay at home get where they need to be when they need to be there.
“The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority, and like the rest of the country, we're doing our bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus and continue to follow the latest Government advice.”
John Halsall, Network Rail Southern Region Managing Director, said:
“It's so important for this country that key workers are able to get to work and vital freight supplies can continue to be delivered, and we're proud to be playing our part.
“I'm so impressed by their dedication and of our railway colleagues too. Network Rail are working closely with our train operators on new timetables and we're continuing to maintain and renew the railway, so that we can keep trains running and people moving, despite the difficult circumstances.”
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I totally agree. South Western Railway’s updated Coronavirus timetable means that to get to work I need to leave Axminster at 00.53am to reach Gillingham,Dorset by 8.20 am. The next train leaves at 9.30am approximately and gets in at about 10.36am.
They state this timetable is to help people get to work on time ! The absolutely abysmal service over the last few months carries on regardless ….
I do feel sorry for passengers using South Western Railway services because of the Coronavirus outbreak.