Yorkshire Post

Railways to ramp up services as our schools reopen

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TRAIN SERVICES will be ramped up from next month as more schools reopen, the rail industry has announced.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators and Network Rail, said services across Britain will be increased to around 90 per cent of pre-coronaviru­s pandemic levels from September 7.

Timetables were slashed in March as the virus led to a reduction in available railway workers and demand for travel. But services were increased to around 80 per cent of normal levels following uplifts in May and July.

The RDG said new timetables being introduced next month have been devised through communicat­ion with schools and other places of education in a bid to run more frequent services or add extra carriages on potentiall­y busy routes. Schools in England and Wales are reopening in early September.

ScotRail increased services earlier this month ahead of lessons resuming at Scottish schools.

RDG chief operating officer Jacqueline Starr said: “We want people to feel confident taking the train as they get back to school, and adding services back into the timetable where they’re most needed will support that.

“Rail companies are doing everything they can to ensure people start the term with a smooth journey, including boosting cleaning, providing sanitiser at stations and offering better informatio­n about busy services.”

Social distancing guidance means only around half of people can travel on the rail network compared with before the crisis.

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