Passengers urged to check journey as EMR increase services to 97%

Passengers of East Midlands Railway (EMR) are being asked to choose their journey wisely as the company reinstates nearly all its services from Monday, September 7.

EMR, which will increase its services by up to 97% of the ‘normal’ or pre-Covid timetable, is asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel as there are some changes to its timetable to allow extra trains to be introduced.

To support passengers with social distancing, EMR provides a Seat Finder Tool with the latest data so passengers can check how busy their journey is likely to be. The tool can be found on its website - www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk.

The updated timetable includes the full reintroduction of the EMR Intercity services between Corby and London, providing an additional 33 trains per day between the East Midlands and the capital.

It also includes increases to EMR’s Robin Hood Line and Derby to Crewe Line.

The Robin Hood Line increase includes the reintroduction of three evening and peak time services on the route – which runs from Nottingham to Worksop.

In addition, it will continue to operate all services with three carriage trains – which provides 25% more capacity compared to its pre-Covid timetable on this route.

The Derby to Crewe increase means the number of trains it runs between the two stations is increased by a third.

However, the majority of EMR services on this route will no longer call at Alsager, with the exception of the first and last trains of the day and any services which are relied upon by those travelling to school or college. This will reduce the knock-on impacts on EMR’s performance of other services on the area. West Midlands Trains, which run an hourly service to Alsager, will provide sufficient capacity for passengers.

Alongside this significant increase in train services, EMR will also reintroduce a limited at-seat catering service for First Class customers on weekdays. This will include a limited breakfast offering until 11am and then an all-day service through until the last train of the day. The catering offer will be fully complementary and has been redesigned to strictly limit contact between customers and our staff.

Customers must continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt. Anyone who refuses to wear one is liable to be fined £100.

In addition, EMR will continue the enhanced cleaning regime introduced in March and will also continue to provide hot water and soap on board all trains as well as providing sanitiser at its 15 busiest stations.

Will Rogers, Managing Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “As schools and businesses reopen across the country, we are doing everything we can to provide as much capacity as possible so people can travel with confidence.

“The increase of our timetable is the result of a lot of hard work behind the scenes and we hope it will help social distancing as well as providing safe and convenient journeys for the cities, towns and communities we serve.

“There are some minor changes to our timetable to allow these extra trains to be introduced so I would urge our customers to check their journey before they set off and also use the Seat Finder tool which can be found our website.”