Greater Anglia has announced how it will change its services to help maintain social distancing as more people return to work, while still ensuring that keyworkers can continue to travel safely.
From Monday 18 May, the company will run an amended Saturday timetable, giving an increased frequency on the Great Eastern main line from Colchester, Clacton and Southend to London and the West Anglia Main Line from Cambridge to Liverpool Street.
Regional lines will remain as they are currently, but the hourly Norwich to Cambridge service will now run as a direct through service to Stansted Airport again.
The Norwich-London intercity service will continue to run once an hour, but during peak periods will not call at Colchester or Chelmsford, running non-stop between Manningtree and Stratford. Instead, passengers at Colchester will be served by three trains per hour and at Chelmsford by four trains per hour on the Great Eastern main line.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “Government advice is still to avoid public transport, so please only travel with us if your journey is absolutely essential.
“We are continuously monitoring passenger numbers to make sure customers can continue to follow Government and Public Health England guidelines on social distancing wherever possible.
“Our top priority is that customers and staff can travel safely while the coronavirus outbreak persists. We will continue to pay particular attention to cleaning high contact areas on our trains and stations such as push buttons, door handles and grab rails.
“We would kindly encourage customers to buy tickets online or via our app. If that’s not possible then please use contactless payment on our ticket vending machines.
“We have marked up our trains and stations with tape and markings to help customers to socially distance. A one door in and one door out system may be in operation on some trains or stations, please look or listen out for instructions from our staff.
“There are other ways that customers can help us to keep them safe – please consider starting or finishing work earlier or later so that not everyone is travelling at the same time.
“The Government is also advising people to wear a face covering when using public transport.”