Extra trains to support vaccination efforts in West Berkshire
GWR agree to extra stops at Newbury Racecourse station
Great Western Railway is providing 17 extra trains a day to Newbury Racecourse to help with the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine.
The additional station stops on trains between Paddington and Bedwyn are intended to help those travelling to the new vaccination centre established at the Racecourse and are in additional to the present hourly timetabled services between Newbury and Reading.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:
“Rail continues to play a key role in providing travel for key workers during the pandemic, and now in helping to carry people to their vaccination.
“While we have taken some sensible measures to reduce our timetable during the present lockdown, this allows us to able to quickly respond to changes in demand, making sure that we can be relied upon at this time to help people travel safely and with confidence where they are able to.”
The extra services will begin to operate from Monday 8 February.
Geordie Taylor who runs Hungerford Self-Isolation Group and has been helping to arrange transport for those who cannot get to the vaccination centre, first contacted GWR in the hope that more trains could be stopped.
He said:
“When I contacted Mark, the MD of GWR, with the suggestion that more trains should stop at Newbury Racecourse I was prepared for a polite rejection. To my surprise and to GWR's immense credit, they not only agreed with me they also fast-tracked the initiative with Network Rail to make it happen in double-quick time.
“This minor change to a complex timetable will be a huge benefit to all residents of Hungerford and many others along the line during the vaccination programme and I tip my hat in thanks to all concerned.”
GWR has also donated 40 bags of gritting salt to the vaccination centre to help prevent any unnecessary slips and trips after learning that they were struggling to get hold of some.