Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink, have confirmed they will be increasing the number of trains run weekly to meet demand.
With full UK lockdown in force, TOCs (Train Operating Companies) across the UK reduced the number of trains running as demand was low.
Now in the process of easing COVID-19 measures across the country, allowing people to commute and travel for leisure, demand is rising.
To ensure passengers have enough seats and room to social distance where possible, some TOCs are adding more trains, totalling over 1,000 more services, to their timetables.
Details for each TOCs' changes can be found below:
- Southern – please visit their website here.
- Thameslink – please visit their website here.
- Great Northern – please visit their website here.
Many safety measures have been taken to greatly reduce the chances of contracting COVID-19, such as many new hand sanitising stations. Face coverings will still need to be worn.
Chief Operating Officer of parent operator Govia Thameslink Railway Steve White said: “As lockdown restrictions are eased, we are reinstating services for our returning customers. These additional trains will help provide more space on board by adding more capacity on our busier routes at the most popular times. They will also provide more journey choices for customers at quieter times.
“Social distancing will become more challenging as more people start to travel again, so we'd advise everyone to use online journey planners which will highlight the busiest services to help you plan an alternative time or route if you can.
“Our team are really looking forward to welcoming people back to the railway. As customers return, and the impact of Covid on our resources allows, we will continue to review and increase our services based on feedback from our passengers, hospitals, vaccination centres, schools and businesses. This will ensure that we continue to support our customers and our communities as we did during the height of the pandemic.”
“The Class 365 trains have been helpful ‘peak busters' on a busy railway but don't benefit from air conditioning, CCTV or selective door opening, making them less flexible than our other Great Northern fleets. Releasing these trains earlier than planned, and temporarily reassigning other trains to reflect reduced customer demand across the whole GTR network, allows us to offer a much-improved experience for passengers and make savings which is good news for the taxpayer.”
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Thameslink should continue with introducing more new services such as Kings Lynn-Brighton, Rainham, Wimbledon/Sutton, Horsham, Gatwick Airport and Littlehampton and Peterborough & Cambridge-Brighton, Horsham, Littlehampton, Orpington, Rainham and Sevenoaks. And Bedford-Wimbledon/Sutton, Sevenoaks and Orpington. With passengers continuing to switch Thameslink trains at St. Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink and Blackfriars.
Cl 365s are also much more comfortable than 700s, with carpets and trinket tables. 700s are utterly rubbish for customers.
Cl 365s don’t have air con but do have forced air ventilation which will be just as effective at moving air around. At any rate a few open hopper windows will ventilate quite effectively at 100 mph!!