Industry News Premier Construction Premier Rail

New Timetable Means More Services, Enhanced Connectivity and More Choice for Rail Customers

First Nova 3 train accepted ahead of its rollout across the North of England
Written by Amy

 

Rail customers across the North and into Scotland are set to benefit from additional services, enhanced connectivity and more choice making it even easier to travel to work or plan a day out with friends or family.

Train company TransPennine Express (TPE) is launching a transformational new timetable that will deliver real benefits for the communities it serves.

Part of the Great North Rail Project (GNRP), the changes will come into effect from Sunday 20 May 2018 and customers are being encouraged to plan ahead and check before they travel.

Key changes will include:

  • Journeys between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street will become much faster taking just 35 minutes (compared to the current 52) when TPE begins operating on a new route between Manchester and Liverpool via Newton-le-Willows and Lea Green
  • Two fast TPE services every hour between Newcastle and Manchester calling at York, Leeds and Huddersfield (with the majority also calling at Durham)
  • TPE will begin operating six trains an hour across the Pennines between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. From May, two of these hourly services will begin calling at intermediate stations (previously served by Northern Rail) between Manchester and Leeds, providing these communities with direct connections to Leeds and faster journeys to Manchester
  • New hourly evening services between Hull and Manchester
  • More services on Sundays from Middlesbrough and Hull
  • Earlier/later services on weekdays from Scarborough and Middlesbrough
  • Services to and from Scotland will run direct between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly and will no longer call at Wigan North Western and Manchester Oxford Road
  • TPE services will no longer operate on the route via Birchwood, Warrington Central or Liverpool South Parkway

Commenting on the upcoming timetable change, Leo Goodwin, Managing Director for TransPennine Express said: “This is one of the biggest timetable changes the North has seen and will deliver real benefits for those travelling for work or leisure.

“This is excellent news for customers with more services and additional journey options.

“Customers across our network are already benefitting from a £32million overhaul of our train fleet to like-new standard with the on-board experience having been totally transformed. The upgrade features new high-quality seating and carpets, charging points, fast, free Wi-Fi in both standard and first class plus access to free entertainment system, Exstream. The first of our brand new Nova trains are set to be introduced later this year as part of a £500million investment which will deliver more than 13 million extra seats across the North and into Scotland.”

Transport for the North’s Strategic Rail Programme Director, David Hoggarth said: “This is a period of significant change for rail users in the North as part of the journey to transformed services and rolling stock. TransPennine Express is setting the bar high with its new and refurbished trains and with some real improvements to services. It’s good to see the enhancements and there will be more to come.”

Full details of all train times and fares can be found on line at www.tpexpress.co.uk

About the author

Amy