Published on: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Last updated: Thursday, 13 January 2022
One of Greater Anglia's new Alstom trains. Credit: Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia is adding more services and making changes to its current revised weekday timetable – in response to feedback from customers.
From Monday 17 January, the following changes will be made to the timetable:
- An additional morning peak service from Witham to London Liverpool Street, departing Witham at 07.04 calling at Hatfield Peverel 07.08, Chelmsford 07.15, Ingatestone 07.22, Shenfield 07.27, Stratford 07.44, and arriving at London Liverpool Street at 07.53.
- Extra afternoon service for school children travelling home from schools in Essex: departing Chelmsford at 16.10, calling at Shenfield 16.21, Stratford 16.36, arriving at London Liverpool Street at 16.44.
- Two morning and two afternoon services between Hertford East and London Liverpool Street instead of Stratford: departing Hertford East towards Liverpool Street 07.10, 07.41, 16.39 and 17.09 and the current 08.11, 08.41, 17.44 and 18.17 services will start at London Liverpool Street instead of Stratford.
- Three extra peak services on the Southend Victoria line, departing Southend Victoria at 06.30 and 16.10 arriving London Liverpool Street at 07.30 and 17.10; and departing London Liverpool Street at 17.32 arriving Southend Victoria at 18.31.
- One extra afternoon peak service from London Liverpool Street to Colchester, departing Liverpool St at 17.11, calling at Stratford 17.18, Shenfield 17.34, Chelmsford 17.44, Witham 17.54 , Marks Tey 18.02 and arriving at Colchester at 18.10.
Further changes due from Monday 24 January are:
- All services from Hertford East will operate to London Liverpool Street instead of Stratford.
- Direct services will be introduced from Walton-on-the-Naze to Colchester via Colchester Town. These will replace the current Colchester to Colchester Town shuttle.
- The 06.05 departure from Southminster will run through from Wickford to London Liverpool Street, with intermediate stops at Billericay, Shenfield and Stratford.
Greater Anglia brought in a new temporary revised weekday timetable on Monday 10 January in response to a reduction in passenger numbers, which are currently at 40-50 per cent of pre pandemic levels. Peak-time passenger numbers are about 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “We’re very sorry for any inconvenience caused to customers by the new temporary timetable.
“We’ve listened to feedback and we’re making changes to make journeys better for school children and commuters alike.
“We’ll continue to monitor passenger numbers, listen to our customers and make adjustments if necessary, by either increasing the length of trains or adding extra services.”
He added: “Our railway has changed as a result of the pandemic. We’re seeing fewer commuters and business travellers due to people working from home when they can, and we’re now funded entirely by the Government – and ultimately taxpayers.
“We have a duty to our customers and to taxpayers. We want to provide a reliable and punctual service for our customers, which is also good value to taxpayers.
“We are determined to continue running a reliable and punctual service for all our customers, as we have done throughout the pandemic.”
Rail passengers are reminded to check before they travel using the Greater Anglia website or app, which will include revised train times.
Greater Anglia has a range of measures in place to keep people safe while travelling on all trains – busy or quiet - including good ventilation with either air conditioning which sucks in fresh air every six to nine minutes or opening windows, as well as doors which open at stations.
The company is continuing with enhanced cleaning and sanitisation paying particular attention to high touch areas such as push buttons and grab handles.
Anyone who wants to travel on a less busy train can check which trains have fewest passengers using the less busy trains tool on the Greater Anglia website.
The company is thanking the high number of customers who are wearing face coverings on trains and stations, which is once again mandatory.