Train services will be ramped up from September 7 to 90% of pre-Covid levels as schools reopen and more workers return to the office
- Timetables were slashed in March as the virus cut demand and available workers
- Services are at 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels following rises in May and July
- Social distancing means only around half of people can travel on board safely
Train services will ramped up from September 7 to 90 per cent of pre-Covid levels as schools reopen and more workers return to the office.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators and Network Rail, said services across Britain will be increased to around 90% of pre-coronavirus pandemic levels from September 7.
Timetables were slashed in March as the virus led to a reduction in available railway workers and demand for travel.
But services were increased to around 80% of normal levels following uplifts in May and July.
The Rail Delivery Group has said services will return to 90% of normal capacity from September 7
The RDG said new timetables being introduced next month have been devised through communication with schools and other places of education in a bid to run more frequent services or add extra carriages on potentially busy routes.
Schools in England and Wales are reopening in early September.
ScotRail increased services earlier this month ahead of lessons resuming at Scottish schools.
RDG chief operating officer Jacqueline Starr said: ‘We want people to feel confident taking the train as they get back to school, and adding services back into the timetable where they’re most needed will support that.
Social distancing guidance means only around half of people can travel on the rail network compared with before the crisis, according to the RDG
‘Rail companies are doing everything they can to ensure people start the term with a smooth journey, including boosting cleaning, providing sanitiser at stations and offering better information about busy services.
‘Some train times will change so we’re asking people to check before they travel and plan their journeys for quieter times if possible.’
Social distancing guidance means only around half of people can travel on the rail network compared with before the crisis, according to the RDG.
ScotRail increased services earlier this month ahead of lessons resuming at Scottish schools
But asked whether passengers will be prevented from boarding trains once the lower capacity has been reached, a spokeswoman for the industry body told the PA news agency it believes passengers will not want to crowd on to trains where they cannot maintain social distancing.
She added that health guidance is explained on posters at stations and on trains, while passengers can also sign up to personalised alerts about how busy their journeys will be.
Latest confirmed figures from the Department for Transport show rail usage in Britain is at 33% of pre-pandemic levels.