Transport User Voice – February 2022 – Temporary Covid timetables

27 January 2022

Delays and disruption for passengers

Rail passengers had a bumpy start to the year as they faced significant disruption. Staff absences due to Covid meant that operators had to cancel services and reduce timetables.

While the introduction of reduced timetables is a sensible move to help boost reliability, passengers have faced significant delays and disruption and changes to services.

Transport Focus has been working to ensure operators meet the needs of those who have to travel, especially key sector workers. We’ve called for train operators to protect first and last services to meet these passengers’ needs.

Passengers tell us they need punctual, reliable services and will want to see normal service resumed as soon as possible. As and when demand returns, the rail industry must be ready to ramp up services and deliver a timetable which passengers can rely on.

Our chief executive Anthony Smith has written to the Department for Transport, the Rail Delivery Group and Network Rail regarding the current Omicron-related timetable reductions.

We called for assurance that schedules will be scaled back up as soon as possible to meet passenger need.

 

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