Most Greater Anglia services to operate again from Monday 6 July

Published on: Monday, 29 June 2020
Last updated: Monday, 29 June 2020

Greater Anglia is re-introducing most of its scheduled services from Monday 6 July – increasing the number of seats available on weekdays by over 46,000, as more people are due to return to work as the lockdown is eased further.

The train company is re-introducing a full timetable on most services, although the Stansted Express and Norwich-London intercity service will still operate at a reduced frequency to normal.

However,  an extra 18 services a day will be added on the intercity route on Mondays to Fridays, compared to the current service, providing some additional services across the day, including in the morning and evening peak periods.

All ticket offices will also reopen in the week beginning Sunday 5 July, although customers are still advised to buy tickets online, through the Greater Anglia app or on ticket machines as there will be fewer windows open at ticket offices to allow staff to socially distance.

As a reminder, current Government advice is to avoid public transport where possible and to only travel by train if you need to do so.

It is now mandatory for customers to wear a face covering when using public transport, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Children under the age of 11 and people with a disability or illness which means they cannot wear a face covering are exempt from wearing them.

Greater Anglia has introduced a wide range of measures to make it easier for customers to maintain social distancing at stations and on trains - including floor markings, one-way systems, new signs and queuing systems.

These are being adjusted, where appropriate, to reflect the changes to the Government’s social distancing guidance from Saturday 4 July.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: "We’re pleased to be able to re-introduce most timetabled services from Monday 6 July.

"With the further easing of the lockdown, we expect more passengers will be using our trains, so it makes sense to increase services in line with the likely demand.

"We will be running almost 93 per cent of the normal schedule, providing more services for customers who need to travel by train for work, business or leisure.  However, at this stage, we are still asking customers only to travel by train where necessary.

"We’ll continue to monitor demand on a daily basis and plan for the phased re-introduction of the remaining intercity and Stansted Express services when appropriate.

"Please help us to help you keep our customers and staff as safe as possible from the virus by wearing a face covering on our stations and trains and following guidelines and instructions for social distancing."

Catering services are available again on intercity services – serving a range of drinks and snacks.

People are advised to spend as little time at stations as possible – buying tickets online or via the Greater Anglia app or using contactless payment at vending machines if they have to buy tickets at the station.

Customers should use the whole length of the platforms and trains, to ensure they are as spread-out as possible, and stand back to let people off the train before boarding.

People are asked to try and travel outside the busiest times - details of the busiest trains are available online.

Passengers should remain in their seat until they reach their destination, rather than walking down to the front of the train.

Greater Anglia has stepped up cleaning on stations and trains, concentrating on high-touch areas such as push buttons, grab rails and door handles.

Exceptions to the full timetable are:

  • An hourly weekday intercity service will operate from Norwich to London from 05.00 to 22.00, plus additional services at 05.30, 06.48, 09.30, 10.30, 11.30, 14.30, 15.30 and 16.30, and from London to Norwich at 06.25, then 07.30 to 23.30, plus additional services at 07.00, 08.00, 09.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 17.00, 17.50 and 19.02.  With the further addition of a 05.12 Ipswich to London intercity service, there will be an extra 18 intercity services a day compared to the current revised weekday timetable, including three additional morning peak and three additional evening peak services.
  • A half hourly Stansted Express service will operate between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street.

Full details of all train times are available on the Greater Anglia website.

All ticket office hours will return to normal, except for Newport, which will open from 0630 to 0930 Monday to Friday only.