West Midlands Railway to increase services from September

The new timetable which will come into effect from Sunday, September 6, will see available space increased in time for the return of schools and workplaces across the region.

It returns the capacity in many places on the West Midlands Railway (WMR) network to near pre-Covid levels.

All rail operators significantly reduced services in March in response to the pandemic, with passenger numbers dropping by 95 per cent at the height of the lockdown. Services have been stepped up twice since May and with increased numbers travelling, WMR is once again adding more trains as part of a timetable focused on capacity and reliability.

The enhanced timetable is the most significant step up in rail capacity since lockdown and will see the introduction of longer trains running modular routes to boost reliability.

Among the key changes are services between Walsall and Rugeley step up to two trains per hour both peak and off-peak.

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said: “This timetable is the most significant step up in our capacity since lockdown. We are adding thousands of extra seats to give our customers the space to travel with confidence.

“We have taken all the aspects which made our lockdown timetable work so well and expanded them as increasing numbers of customers continue returning to the railway. This simpler timetable will be more reliable for passengers with longer trains to help social distancing.

“We know that coronavirus will continue to impact our lives and workplaces for some time to come but by creating a resilient, flexible timetable we can help our customers adjust to their new normal.”

Passengers are also being reminded that wearing a face covering is compulsory on trains and in stations unless exempt for medical reasons. Non-compliance is punishable by a fine from the British Transport Police.

For more information about new timetables, visit www.wmr.uk/plan.