2009-02-12 Passengers and economy to benefit from biggest investment in trains for a generation (Department for Transport)

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date 3 April 2009
source ATOC
type Press release

EASTER TRAVEL ADVICE FOR RAIL PASSENGERS
FROM TRAIN OPERATORS

With less then a week to go to the Easter holiday, Britain’s railway is gearing up for a major getaway.

Over the Easter holiday weekend from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday, train operators expect to carry some 10 million passengers on more than 64,000 train services – around 5,000 more than were run over Easter in 2008.

Maundy Thursday (9th April) is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year, particularly on long distance routes, with over three and half million passengers expected to take the train. Good Friday (10th April) will also be busy, but other days over the Easter holiday are likely to be much quieter.

Train operators are advising passengers to plan their journey in advance, particularly on long distance services which will be very busy and seat reservations are strongly advised.

Many passengers will be unaffected by Network Rail’s engineering and track improvement programme. Where the improvement programme does affect services, trains will be diverted over alternative routes wherever possible.

Passengers intending to travel by train over Easter should follow four basic steps:
1. Plan your train journey by checking timetable information: this information is available by visiting the National Rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk, which provides links to all train operating companies and retailing websites or by calling National Rail Enquiries (08457 48 49 50).
2. Book as soon as possible: purchase tickets for Easter travel in advance - not on the day of travel - to secure cheaper prices. Easter is a busy period and the cheaper priced tickets will sell out.
3. Make seat reservations: it is strongly recommended that seat reservations are made when purchasing tickets for longer distance journeys. Seat reservations are free.
4. Check for engineering works: some train operators are running amended Easter weekend timetables. These are being extensively publicised at stations, or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/easter to find out whether engineering works affect your journey. Alternatively, contact either National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or your local train operating company for more details about who will provide detailed travel information at stations and on their website.

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For further information, please contact the ATOC press office on 020 7841 8020.

Notes to Editors
The main network changes as a result of engineering and track improvement work over the Easter weekend are:
o The West Coast Main Line between Milton Keynes and Rugby will be closed from Easter Saturday through until 1200hrs on Easter Monday. However, Virgin Trains will operate an hourly service to/from London Euston to Nuneaton, calling at Coventry, via the Chiltern route. All other Virgin Trains’ services to/from the North and Midlands will start/terminate at Rugby. London Midland’s trains will operate between London Euston and Milton Keynes, with a bus replacement service being provided between Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby, Coventry and Birmingham International.
o Services from London Waterloo on the South West Main Line will be subject to alteration and diversion due to engineering works taking place in the Wimbledon area between Good Friday and Easter Monday. Local services between Clapham Junction and Surbiton will be replaced by buses.
o Trains to East Anglia and the Essex Coast from London’s Liverpool Street station will be affected by upgrade work in the Stratford area between Good Friday and Easter Monday. Intercity services will start/terminate at Shenfield with a bus replacement service operating between Liverpool Street and Ingatestone. Local services will start/terminate at Romford and Ilford, where there will a bus service to/from Newbury Park for the Tube into London.
o On the Thameslink route trains from Bedford will start/terminate at St Pancras International and from Brighton will start/terminate at Herne Hill, with a bus replacement service operating to from Blackfriars.

About ATOC
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is the official voice for the passenger rail industry - representing train companies to the government and other opinion formers on transport policy issues. Britain's train operators are working together to change rail travel for the better.
ATOC manages many joint activities for train operators including revenue allocation and settlement, impartial retailing, National Rail Enquiries, Railcard marketing, staff travel arrangements, international products and travel agent licensing.

Railhub Archive ::: 2009-04-03 ATO-001