Easter travel advice for rail passengers
17th March 2008
ATOC
Rail passengers are reminded that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are likely to be very busy and that anyone planning to travel by train should plan their journey in advance. Up to three million passengers are expected to take the train on Maundy Thursday 20th March, one of the busiest days of the year for rail travel. Good Friday 21st March will also be busy but the other days over Easter are expected to quieter.
Most of the rail network remains open but there are a number of major engineering and track improvement works being carried out by Network Rail. Train operators advise passengers to plan their journey in advance, particularly on long distance services to all parts of Britain which will be very busy and seat reservations are essential.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) advise passengers who intend to travel by train over Easter to follow four basic steps:
1. Plan your train journey by checking timetable information with National Rail Enquiries:
3. Make seat reservations: it is strongly recommended that seat reservations are made when purchasing tickets for longer distance journeys. Seat reservations are free.
4. Check for engineering works: Some train operators are running amended Easter weekend timetables. These are being extensively publicised at stations and by National Rail Enquiries at www.nationalrail.co.uk/easter. Alternatively, contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or your local train operating company for more details who provide detailed travel information at stations and on their website.
As 70% of rail journeys involve travel via London, the city’s terminal stations will be particularly busy, as will main stations in other cities around Britain.
George Muir, Director General of ATOC said: “Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is going to be a busy time for the railway. We strongly advise people to follow our four steps to ensure that they can travel more easily and comfortably to their destination particularly on longer distance services.”
For further information, please contact the ATOC press office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors
There are a number of major engineering and track improvement works being carried out by Network Rail including:
Most of the rail network remains open but there are a number of major engineering and track improvement works being carried out by Network Rail. Train operators advise passengers to plan their journey in advance, particularly on long distance services to all parts of Britain which will be very busy and seat reservations are essential.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) advise passengers who intend to travel by train over Easter to follow four basic steps:
1. Plan your train journey by checking timetable information with National Rail Enquiries:
- Online at www.nationalrail.co.uk (and we’ll text you if there is an unexpected problem on the day)
- Call TrainTracker for speedy automated service on 0871 200 4950
- Phone the call centre on 08457 48 49 50
- Mobile internet from your smartphone (www.nationalrail.co.uk)
- Text your station name and time of travel to 8 49 50 on the day to receive the latest information for the next few departures at your chosen station.
3. Make seat reservations: it is strongly recommended that seat reservations are made when purchasing tickets for longer distance journeys. Seat reservations are free.
4. Check for engineering works: Some train operators are running amended Easter weekend timetables. These are being extensively publicised at stations and by National Rail Enquiries at www.nationalrail.co.uk/easter. Alternatively, contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or your local train operating company for more details who provide detailed travel information at stations and on their website.
As 70% of rail journeys involve travel via London, the city’s terminal stations will be particularly busy, as will main stations in other cities around Britain.
George Muir, Director General of ATOC said: “Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is going to be a busy time for the railway. We strongly advise people to follow our four steps to ensure that they can travel more easily and comfortably to their destination particularly on longer distance services.”
For further information, please contact the ATOC press office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors
There are a number of major engineering and track improvement works being carried out by Network Rail including:
- The West Coast Main Line will be closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday between Coventry, Rugby and Northampton and from London Euston on Easter Saturday until Easter Monday. No intercity services will operate from London Euston from Good Friday. Local train services will operate between London Euston and Northampton only on Good Friday. Local services will be replaced by buses at other times. Chiltern Railways will accept all valid Virgin and London Midland tickets on London Marylebone to Birmingham services.
- The East Coast Main Line from 2pm on Easter Saturday to 2pm on Easter Sunday, when services between London King’s Cross, the North East of England and Scotland will be diverted via Leeds due to work between Doncaster and York.
- The Great Western Main Line services between Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham will be disrupted from Good Friday to Easter Monday with trains being replaced by a bus service or diverted.
- Services from London Waterloo on the South West Main Line will be subject to alterations and diversions due to major engineering works taking place at Clapham Junction between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
- Services to East Anglia and the Essex coast from London’s Liverpool Street will also be disrupted between Good Friday and Easter Monday with a bus replacement service operating between Gidea Park, Billericay and Ingatestone. On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday other services to/from Liverpool Street will operate to alternative timetables.
