A full rail timetable has resumed on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford.
A partial service has been running on the line since November 2023 when operator London Northwestern Railway (LNR) introduced a replacement train fleet. Prior to that, rail replacement had been in operation on the line since December 2022 after the company which maintained the Class 230 trains previously used on the route entered administration.
A special event to mark the return of the hourly timetable took place at Bletchley yesterday morning (Monday 19 February), attended by rail users, members of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership and local MPs.
To celebrate the return of the timetable and encourage passengers to return to the route, LNR is running a major ticket offer. For the next three months, a single journey between any two stations on the Marston Vale Line will cost just £1 (50p for children). The promotion represents a discount of up to 90% on the usual fare, depending on the journey.
Jonny Wiseman, LNR customer experience director, said: “I am delighted the full timetable has resumed on the Marston Vale Line. I look forward to welcoming passengers back on board and I thank them for their patience whilst we have worked to overcome logistical challenges and return services to the line.
“We have reduced the cost of a trip on the line to £1 for the next three months to encourage passengers to make full use of the train service and we hope this will encourage customers between Bedford and Bletchley to return to the railway.”
Due to the very short platforms on the Marston Vale Line, only certain types of train can be used on the route. Following the demise of the Class 230s, LNR worked with partners in the rail industry to arrange the transfer of three Class 150 trains from elsewhere in the country to restore the service.
The Class 150 trains being used on the route were most recently in service with Northern. Each train is wheelchair accessible and has capacity for 173 passengers. The trains have been recently refurbished with features including a universally accessible toilet, an upgraded passenger information system and USB charging points throughout the carriages.
Under the full timetable there are 17 daily departures in each direction between Bedford and Bletchley from Monday-Saturday. There is no Sunday service on the Marston Vale Line.
More information on the project to restore services to the Marston Vale Line over the past 12 months is available on the LNR website.
Image credit: LNR
