16.30 update from Southern on revised timetable

Some 82% of Southern services are running to time against the temporary weekday revised timetable introduced today to reduce the impact on passengers and staff of unpredictable and late notice cancellations.

Services are very busy but there are still no reported crowding issues.

The temporary timetable has 85% of the normal number of trains.

A Southern spokesperson said: “The changes we made today have, so far, delivered an encouraging start to what we wanted to give our passengers: a more robust timetable with more trains running to schedule at times when people need them the most.

“But while we cautiously welcome this news, it is early days and we also realise that what our passengers really want is for us to get back to our normal timetable as quickly as possible.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

There were issues this morning with the track power supply at East Croydon which blocked one of the London-bound fast lines at one of the busiest sections of the network, affecting punctuality figures.

The number of trains cancelled in the revised timetable is 341 which is broadly similar to the number that was being cancelled ad hoc previously but the bulk of the train service is now being delivered when people need it most by targeting available traincrew to the busiest lines and times of day, and by minimising gaps between trains wherever possible.

Southern has had issues with train crew availability ever since the RMT launched industrial action over the operator’s plans to evolve the role of many of its on-board staff so that drivers would close train doors instead of conductors.

We are advising customers to check before they travel.

Full information and a map detailing the changes made to the timetable, are available at www.southernrailway.com/revisedtimetable Southern is also taking action to encourage staff back to work and working with the Government to introduce more generous passenger compensation.

During the amended timetable, customers will be able to claim compensation against trains cancelled in advance or against delays experienced on the day; either against the normal or the amended timetable.