GWR reduces services

Temporary cuts until Omicron recedes

A second rail company serving Devon is having trouble meeting its timetable because of staff shortages due to covid.

Earlier this week, Crosscountry, which links the south west to Scotland and the north of England, advised passengers to check to see if their train was running.

Now Great Western Railway - GWR - is introducing a reduced timetable because of staff being absent or self-isolating. 

The temporary timetable comes into effect on Saturday 8 January. The company says they should be able to provide the majority of the usual, planned trains. 

The reduced timetable will be updated weeklyand is only expected to be in operation until the impact of the Omicron variant has lessened. 

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:  “We are taking some sensible measures using the experience, knowledge and good processes we have developed over the past 20 months to give customers confidence in our timetable. 

“In the past few weeks we have already taken steps to maintain service levels across the network, including cancelling all non-safety critical staff training. 

“Like many other businesses we are expecting prolonged periods of staff absence due to Covid to continue in the coming weeks and the objective of this temporary timetable is to provide a service that can be relied on, reducing the potential for ad hoc short-notice cancellations. 

“This means reducing our timetable a little to shore up the large number of services we continue to operate. We have prioritised high-use school, college and other known key worker services and we very much hope that the changes will only be needed for a short period.  

Affected routes include some Devon and Cornwall branch lines. Planned upgrade work between Newton Abbot and Paignton means that no trains will run for the next two weekends – and a bus replacement service will be in operation. 

The industry’s Book with Confidence scheme has been extended until the end of March so that passengers can change their travel plans up to the evening before departure without being charged a fee, or if they choose not to travel are able to receive a refund on their unused ticket.