Southern Railway are preparing to welcome customers back to their network as restrictions begin to ease and we emerge from lockdown.
This means more local rail services will be reintroduced from Monday 17 May, with protective measures to help passengers travel safely.
After significant periods of asking customers to use their services for essential travel only during the last year, I recognise that some people may need some reassurance before returning. Southern have launched a campaign to help underline that when people are ready to travel, they are here to support you. Services have been running throughout the last year, especially for key workers, and their staff have been ensuring they operate safely. The campaign is being shared on radio, across social media, through on-street posters and around shopping centres to reach out to those not travelling, and also across Southern's own network for existing passengers.
The two key changes to services locally are as follows:
- The reintroduction of several peak semi-fast services from Epsom to London Bridge – the 06:15, 06:45 and 07:45 departures notably. These are the services that operate via Sutton and Carshalton Beeches and in combination with services that are already running will mean the return of the every 30 minute frequency on the route.
- More services on the Sutton / Epsom Downs to London Victoria via West Croydon route. Since February, more services have been added already, with the latest change on the 19 April seeing 14 additional peak services. From the 17 May more peak-time services will be added, ensuring that the busiest times of day are covered by at least four trains per hour – for example, the period between 05:51 and 09:51 departing Sutton. At quieter times such as the middle of the day the service will continue to operate as half-hourly.
You can find more information on Southern Railway's website: www.southernrailway.com