GWR 'expecting to operate 99% of planned timetable' after rail disruption in Cornwall
There have been widespread delays and cancellations after cracks were found in some high-speed trains
It looks like major disruption on Cornwall's rail link to London is starting to come to an end.
High-speed Hitachis were pulled from service the weekend before last, after cracks were found in some trains.
The issue caused widespread delays and cancellations across the UK, including Great Western Railway.
Now GWR has confirmed it is expecting to operate 99% of its planned timetable from today (Monday 17th May) after further safety checks.
Which services are running in Cornwall?
GWR is now beginning to reintroduce trains with a more regular service for passengers.
The timetable includes:
London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads: Half-hourly
London Paddington and Plymouth/Penzance: Hourly to Plymouth with services extended to Penzance every two hours
London Paddington and South Wales (via Bristol Parkway): Half-hourly during peak, hourly outside peak times
London Paddington to the North Cotswolds via Oxford: Hourly
London Paddington and the South Cotswolds (Cheltenham/Gloucester): Hourly.
Local stopping services will continue to operate as planned, and additional long-distance train services will be provided at weekends to accommodate summer increases in visitors to Devon and Cornwall.
GWR will operate Intercity Express Trains alongside additional trains brought in from other areas of the UK rail network to provide its long-distance services.
With a reduction in available Class 800 trains, some very early morning and late evening services will not operate, and Intercity Express Train services between London Paddington and Newbury will be replaced by Class 387 electric trains (where customers can join a connecting train to Bedwyn).
The service recovery plan includes thorough inspections by specialist teams before trains leave the depot and trains will only re-enter service if they meet agreed safety criteria.
Working with Hitachi Rail, the rail regulator will continue to carry out rigorous oversight to ensure robust processes are being followed.
Trains on some routes may be less frequent than usual and train availability could vary, for a number of reasons, so passengers should continue to check before they travel this week.
"Our customers have shown great patience over the past week, and I am grateful for their understanding as we have worked with Hitachi to allow trains to return safely.
"This news will allow us to run some additional services over the weekend and reintroduce more consistent robust timetables for customers from Monday.
"The industry has come together to help support those travelling - with other operators allowing each other's tickets to be used on their networks; adding in extra shuttle services to help move people; and in sharing rolling stock to provide it to those who need it most".
Mark Hopwood, Great Western Railway
You can plan your journey and check the latest timetables here.