Chiltern Railways running new reduced timetable from Saturday 4th April

Chiltern Railway services from Saturday 4th April will be moving to a new reduced timetable to ensure that vital train services for key workers can keep running throughout the Coronavirus outbreak. Customers should check their train times on the Chiltern website at www.chilternrailways.co.uk/coronavirus. 

The move reflects a decrease in passenger demand as people stop all unnecessary travel and only key workers use Chiltern Railways services. Running reduced services also helps to protect the welfare of frontline railway staff essential for day-to-day operations. The train operator has also launched an email address where key workers can give feedback on the new timetable, keyworker@chilternrailways.co.uk. This timetable will remain in place until further notice, though service levels will be kept under regular review.

Key changes include removal of the weekday 0722 and 0822 from High Wycombe to London Marylebone and similarly the 1713 and 1813 from Marylebone to High Wycombe will no longer run. The 0648 and 0748 from Aylesbury to Marylebone are removed as well as the 1727 and 1827 from Marylebone to Aylesbury. The Marylebone to Aylesbury via Amersham service will run in the morning and evening only. The service will not run between 1000 and 1500, instead operating between Aylesbury and Amersham. Customers looking to travel between Amersham and London will be asked to change onto Transport for London’s Metropolitan Line services, which are operating between Amersham and Baker Street with a reduced timetable.

Mary Hewitt, interim Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said: “I am extremely proud of the way that everyone at Chiltern Railways has risen to the huge challenges we are facing. The railway industry is working together to ensure that key workers can continue to perform their vital roles.

"We have undertaken a detailed review of the numbers using our services and ensured that these changes will still provide enough space on our trains for customers to maintain social distancing. This revised timetable will ensure that Chiltern Railways can still continue to operate a reliable service throughout the current crisis.”