Greater Anglia launches reduced timetable in response to the pandemic
A new reduced timetable is now in operation on Greater Anglia.
A temporary reduced timetable across the Greater Anglia network has come into force today.
It's been introduced in response to the lower number of passengers travelling due to lockdown restrictions.
Greater Anglia says around 72% of normal services will be running for those making essential journeys.
The main changes are:
Peak services on the Great Eastern and West Anglia main lines will be reduced.
Intercity services between Norwich and London Liverpool Street will be reduced to hourly.
Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street off-peak services will be reduced.
Off peak frequency on the Great Eastern branch lines, such as Manningtree to Harwich and Marks Tey to Sudbury will be reduced.
Fast services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street will not run.
There will be less frequent services between Bishops Stortford and Stratford and between Meridian Water and Stratford.
Off peak daytime services on rural routes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will be reduced (generally to two-hourly), with some peak service reductions too.
In total, 379 of Greater Anglia’s weekday services are due to be cancelled. On a normal timetable, the company runs 1,372 services every weekday..
Saturday services are also being reduced in line with weekday services.
Some changes are also planned for Sunday services.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: "Government advice at the moment is to stay at home and to only travel for essential reasons such as work, medical appointments and other legally permissible reasons.
"Our passenger numbers are significantly lower, so it makes sense to reduce the number of services that we run.
"However, we will continue to run a safe, reliable and punctual service for those essential travellers who need to use our railway."
Network Rail is also carrying out engineering works at different locations around the network over coming weekends, which are listed in the "service alterations" section of the Greater Anglia website.
Anyone who does travel on the reduced service will be required to wear a face covering to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.