TransPennine Express has announced that they are making some changes to their timetable from December to make sure a reliable train service can be provided.
The operator is currently running around 80% of its Pre-COVID services, with extra carriages on trains to allow for social distancing.
This will remain unchanged for most services, but there will be some changes to timetables, and passengers are being asked to check before travelling.
From December 14th, TransPennine Express will operate an hourly Manchester Airport to Redcar service, and also an hourly Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle service, which will stop additionally at Lea Green.
York to Scarborough services will run hourly to eliminate some two-hour gaps that existed previously.
Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes services will be enhanced to run hourly, with the Manchester to Hull, Leeds to Huddersfield and Huddersfield to Manchester train services continuing to run hourly.
Edinburgh Waverley to Manchester services will continue to run two-hourly, with just the occasional service operating to Glasgow Central.
Commenting on the changes, Jerry Farquharson, Service Planning Director for TransPennine Express said: “We continue to focus on providing a consistent and reliable train service for those that need it, and customers can feel confident when travelling with us.
“Our team has been working incredibly hard to provide a service that is as safe as possible, from running more trains to delivering the extensive cleaning programme that is in place onboard our trains and at stations.”
“Customers travelling by train are reminded to check before they travel, buy before they board, travel outside peak times where possible, respect social distancing and wear a face covering.”
The latest timetables can be viewed at: tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/timetables
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Responses
Transpennine Express could extend their long distance trans-pennine services from Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Victoria to Sunderland, Hartlepool, Grimsby, Lincoln, Hull, York, Scarborough, Sheffield, Rotherham Central, Doncaster, Cleethorpes, Redcar and Middlesbrough. With using the Nova 1 Class 802, Nova 3 Class 68 Mk5A and Class 185 Desiro DMU units.
Maybe Transpennine Express could lease some of the Class 185 Desiro DMUs to Northern so that Northern can operate them in Northeast England and Northwest England. With TPE to keep the rest of the Class 185. And maybe inherit the Class 222 Meridian DEMUs from East Midlands Railway and to transfer the rest of the Class 185s to Northern.
As East Midlands Railway have ordered the Class 810 “Aurora” AT300 IETs which is to enter service from 2022. That would replace the Class 43 Intercity HSTs, Class 180 Adelante and Class 222 Meridian DEMUs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_810