Chiltern Railways releases vital travel information for Commonwealth Games 2022
Travel Advice
As the West Midlands prepares for the Commonwealth Games and an extra one million passenger journeys over the summer, Chiltern Railways has updated customers with travel advice to ensure anybody who is travelling on the network has a safe, reliable, and comfortable journey.
Chiltern Railways plan to run more trains than usual to assist with the increased demand and capacity across West Midlands.
During the Commonwealth Games, trains are expected to be busier than normal, especially on days and routes where events are taking place. A consequence of this is that there will be less space than usual for bikes on trains, so customers are advised to leave them at home to ensure as many people as possible can board services.
Customers are warned that there will be crowd management and queuing systems outside of stations. Chiltern Railways staff will be handing out ponchos and foam fingers at stations, while on-site entertainment is being booked to fully celebrate the region’s summer of sport.
Event Tickets
If customers have tickets for a Commonwealth Games event, they are able to travel with their event ticket within the Network West Midlands transport boundary, which can be accessed at https://www.birmingham2022.com/travel. If customers are travelling to and from outside of the boundary, a valid rail ticket will need to be purchased.
Strike Disruption
On July 27, strike action by the RMT means that Chiltern will be running a significantly reduced service. It is strongly recommended that customers only travel if absolutely essential. As trains will not be positioned where they would usually be overnight, this will also mean a later start to services on July 28 – the day of the opening ceremony.
Chiltern Railways advises all customers to plan their journey and check before they travel on the Chiltern Railways website or app. (http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk)
Passenger Assist
Customers who require Passenger Assist can now request this up to two hours ahead of their journey any time of day, by dialling 03456 005 165 (selecting option three and option three again). Customers can also ‘turn up and go’ without booking assistance in advance. For more information about Passenger Assist and how to request assistance via Passenger Assist, please visit the National Rail Enquiries website at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/plan-assistance.aspx.
Accessibility at Warwick Station
As events are taking place in Warwick, it is important customers are aware that Warwick Station does not have step-free access. If customers need to travel to Warwick and require step-free access, they are requested to alight at Leamington Spa, where there will be a shuttle bus to take them to Warwick.
Further Information
Customers who are travelling on the network during the Commonwealth Games can view event and travel information at https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/commonwealth-games-2022-travel-information.
Contact Information
Matt Turner
Notes to editors
About Chiltern
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing 53,000 people and delivering 2 billion passenger journeys a year across 14 European countries. Arriva are part of Deutsche Bahn (DB), one of the world’s leading passenger and logistics companies, responsible for DB's passenger transport services outside Germany.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Kidderminster.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.