Greater Anglia has revealed that it will reintroduce its 4 trains per hour, 7-days a week service for its Stansted Express service as part of its December timetable improvements. The news of the return to a 15-minute frequency for the well-used services has been welcomed by Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP and marks an increase in customer demand following the pandemic.
May 2023 saw the rail operator return to 4 trains per hour for Stansted Express services during weekdays and at peak times. However, as passenger numbers have continued to increase, the service has been fully reinstated to every 15 minutes for off-peak and through weekends, which will come into force from Sunday the 10th of December as follows:
Monday to Saturday:
- Departing from London Liverpool Street at: 03.40, 04.10, 04.40, 05.10, then every 15 minutes to 22.55, then 23.25
- Departing from Stansted Airport at: 05.30, 06.00, then every 15 minutes to 23.59, then 00.30
Sundays:
- Departing from London Liverpool Street at: 04.10, 04.40, 05.10, 05.40, 06.10, then every 15 minutes to 22.55, then 23.25
- Departing from Stansted Airport at: 05.30, 06.00, 06.30, 07.00, then every 15 minutes to 23.59, then 00.30
Further improvements are also being introduced by Greater Anglia this December, including:
- An extra 07.25 weekday morning peak service from Ipswich to London Liverpool Street which will call at Manningtree, Colchester and Chelmsford, Stratford and London Liverpool Street
- An extra 19.05 weekday evening peak service from London Liverpool Street to Braintree, calling at Stratford, Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham and then all stations to Braintree
- Extra carriages with an increase from 5 to 10 for the 18.05 from London Liverpool Street to Braintree, which calls at Stratford, Shenfield, Ingatestone, Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel, Witham and then all stations to Braintree
The improvements brought to the rail operator's services through the December timetable changes will support the ongoing recovery of passenger numbers and returning travel patterns across Greater Anglia's network.
Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said:
“We're pleased to be providing 4 trains per hour to Stansted Airport all day, 7 days a week again, from our December timetable change, benefitting air travellers and commuters alike, as well as some other peak time improvements reflecting increases in passenger numbers.”
“With new trains right across our network, we are transforming rail travel in our region, offering an excellent travel experience, more seats, and a more punctual and reliable service. We'll continue to adjust our timetable in line with emerging demand and look to make further improvements where practical and appropriate.”
Rail Minister, Huw Merriman MP said:
“I very much welcome the return of an all-day, 15-minute frequency on the Stansted Express from December. Greater Anglia is rightly responding to increasing demand, ensuring that this crucial link for customers and communities provides a convenient, high-quality option for travellers.”
“With new trains also enabling a reduction in journey times, it shows the UK is focused on offering excellent connections for both domestic and international journeys, supporting both economic growth and leisure travel.”
Gareth Powell, Managing Director, Stansted Airport said:
“London Stansted has been the fastest recovering major UK airport, with passenger numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the last two months.”
“We therefore welcome the upcoming reintroduction of the full four trains per hour schedule, as it's a vital service for the millions of passengers who rely on a convenient and reliable service between London and the airport each year.”
“A regular, turn-up-and-go service will not only encourage more passengers back onto trains and out of private cars to enable the most sustainable growth possible at the airport, and cement our position as the number one airport in the UK for public transport use by passengers, but it will also support our ongoing work to attract more airlines looking to access the UK and London aviation market.”
“This is really positive news for passengers, staff and local commuters, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Greater Anglia to develop further timetable enhancements and service improvements.”
Stansted Express could perhaps order few more Class 745/1s and Greater Anglia to also order few more Class 745/0s so that these trains can operate on 2 separate routes and GA to order few more Class 755 Bi-mode trains to add some more extra capacity on their local regional routes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.