WEST MIDLANDS Railway has released its new timetables following its decision to slash services because of a drop of demand due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The new schedule starts today (Monday).
The first train to Birmingham New Street will be at 5.43am (Great Malvern) and 5.46am (Malvern Link) with the nest ones at 6.47am/6.50am (Great/Link) and 7.36am/7.39am (Great/Link).
In the evening, trains back to Malvern from New Street will leave at 4pm and 6pm.
From Moor Street 4pm, 5pm and 6pm with those services departing from Snow Hill at 4.03pm, 5.03pm and 6.03pm.
As well as the fall in demand which has come about from the public travelling less, the move is also aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Passengers have reported trains being emptier in the past week as the coronavirus situation has worsened.
A number of rail workers have also self-isolated which has left the operator with less staff and some services in the past few weeks have already been cancelled because of ‘a lack of train crew’.
With other cuts on other lines the reduced timetable overall, which is currently being finalised, equates to just over half the usual weekday level of service across the West Midlands Trains network.
Although many people are working from home, emergency services workers, NHS staff and others will need to travel on the netork.
Julian Edwards, managing director of West Midlands Railway, said: “Revising our timetable is the most effective way of making sure we continue to run a regular, reliable service to keep people moving in these exceptional circumstances.
“Like every employer in the country we have a number of our staff currently in self-isolation and attempting to continue with our regular timetable would be impossible.
“Although demand for rail travel has dropped, we know there are many thousands of people who need to keep moving, including NHS workers and others involved in delivering essential public services.
“That is why our front-line staff will continue coming to work in order to deliver this timetable and help keep the country moving.”
Click here to see the new timetable in full.
