Govia Thameslink Railway to introduce temporary timetable as passengers warned rail chaos could last 'weeks'

The implementation of a new timetable has sparked widespread disruption to rail services
PA
Ella Wills2 June 2018

Rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) will introduce a temporary timetable after a scheduling shake-up caused major disruption to four networks in London and the south-east.

GTR will be introducing an interim timetable on Great Northern and Thameslink "as soon as possible", the Rail Delivery Group has announced.

The industry body added that GTR has plans to provide a more consistent level of service to allow passengers to plan their journeys with greater confidence.

GTR chief Charles Horton apologised for the disruption and said the firm will make changes from next week.

The temporary schedule will be introduced on Monday, with six per cent of Northern's total services removed.

Areas affected include Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool and the Lakes Line between Oxenholme and Windermere.

Rail bosses have apologised after an overhaul billed as the UK's biggest in a generation sparked delays and cancellations from May 20.

Every service on GTR's Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express franchise was rescheduled.

New Thameslink Trains - In pictures

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Some parts of the country have experienced "unacceptable levels of disruption", the Rail Delivery Group said.

A spokesman said in a statement: "As a result of the sheer number of changes required and the late running of some engineering improvements, the process took longer than anticipated, approvals for service changes were delayed and some timetable requests were changed.

"This meant that train companies had much less time to prepare for the new timetable meaning specialist training required could not be completed in time for drivers to learn all the new routes, or operate different trains for operators to address all the logistical challenges."

It will be "some weeks" before customers see service improvements, the statement added.

Reports earlier this week suggested that the rail chaos is likely to continue until August due to a shortage of drivers.

Charles Horton, CEO, GTR, said: “May’s new timetable was part of the biggest change to services for decades introducing 400 extra services and providing longer trains to address the doubling of passengers on our network in just 16 years.

“We always said that it would be challenging – but we are very sorry for the significant disruption being experienced by passengers and apologise sincerely.

"Delayed approval of the timetable led to an unexpected need to substantially adjust our plans and resources in an unexpectedly short time-frame.

“We fully understand that passengers want more certainty and next week will make changes to bring greater consistency services with fewer unplanned cancellations, allowing passengers to arrange their journeys with greater confidence.

"We are also working with industry colleagues to introduce further changes that will progressively deliver improvement.”

Robert Nisbet, Regional Director of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We understand that rail customers quite rightly want a service they can rely on and in some parts of the country that has not been the case and we are sorry for that.

"The companies involved have plans to get services back on track as quickly as possible and while things will improve in the coming days, giving passengers greater certainty, it will be some time before the full benefits of the timetable are felt.

“The industry is determined to deliver its plan to change and improve Britain’s railway for customers, communities and the economy and will learn the lessons to ensure that as we transform the network, people continue to get the level of service they deserve.”

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