Greater Anglia to run more trains across East as Plan B restrictions ease
The rail firm has cut back its services over the past few weeks as more people chose to work from home
Local rail firm Greater Anglia is to increase its number of services from next week, as Plan B coronavirus restrictions have lifted.
The company is expecting commuters to return to the rails, after a collapse in passenger numbers over the past few weeks.
A new timetable will be in place from Monday 7 February.
More trains will run on main routes into London Liverpool Street from Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend Victoria.
The intercity service between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and Liverpool Street will run every half hour for most of the day.
Four addtional peak time services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth are being reinstated.
Three trains an hour will run between London and Stansted Airport at peak times.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said:
“We’re pleased to be to welcoming customers back, whether they’re travelling to work or school and college, or for a fun leisure trip. We’re aiming to match the number of services we run to the number of passengers using them.
“We want to provide a safe, reliable and punctual service for our customers, but we also want to provide the best possible value for taxpayers as we are now funded entirely by the government and so ultimately taxpayers.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have altered our services depending on passenger numbers and government guidance.
“Although like everyone we hope the pandemic is nearing an end and that we are approaching a more normal period, we will continue to monitor passenger numbers and make any further adjustments to our services if necessary."
The company has faced criticism in recent weeks for running reduced timetables, affecting commuters and schoolchildren who use trains to get to and from school.