More trains and extra capacity are the aspirations for passenger train operators with the new National Rail Timetable that came into effect on June 2.
The changes bring in some new services, cancellation of some others, more seats on peak services and the debut of new trains, notably Avanti West Coast’s Evero fleet.
Split between electric (Class 807) and bi-mode (Class 805) trains, these will initially serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and then in the North West.
However, Avanti West Coast has cancelled its direct service between Shrewsbury and London, which will now run from Wolverhampton or Birmingham New Street instead.
Great Western Railway says it has targeted delivering more trains where they are needed most.
Two early evening weekday services between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway have enabled the operator to reintroduce two fast services between London Paddington and South Wales - the first time they have appeared on the timetable since 2020. They will not be stopping at Reading or Swindon.
GWR has also doubled capacity on its Plymouth to London Paddington service.
Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We are continuing to work closely with our industry partners to improve performance and capacity so that we can deliver the services our customers expect - services that help to support the local and regional economy and connect people to work, to schools and colleges, to friends and family, and to some of the best leisure destinations in the UK.”
On the East Coast Main Line, LNER has introduced two new services from King’s Cross to Leeds. The 1033 will call at Peterborough, Grantham, Newark Northgate, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate. The return will depart Leeds at 1340.
LNER has also introduced more seats on its 0840 Leeds-King’s Cross and its 1222 King’s Cross-Newcastle.
Also on the ECML, Great Northern has introduced two extra peak-time services between Peterborough and London Kings Cross.
Greater Anglia has introduced six new evening peak-time services from London Liverpool Street to destinations across the region - including Southend, Witham, Southminster and Ipswich.
Most services will remain the same for Northern, although an increase in Class 170 availability has meant it will reduce Class 150 deployment on the Leeds- Harrogate-York route. Extra capacity is also available between Liverpool and Manchester Airport.
The operator is also expecting to welcome the new Northumberland Line to its schedule in the summer.
In Scotland, there is an hourly service between the reopened Levenmouth station and Edinburgh.
And morning capacity for commuters has been strengthened in Edinburgh, with a new peak-time service between Prestonpans and Edinburgh Waverley.
There are more frequent trains on Glasgow’s suburban routes, as well as a more frequent service between Glasgow and Wemyss Bay.
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