Timetable Changes
From 9 December 2007, there will be initial changes to CrossCountry services (part of the Department for Transport (DfT) reshaping of franchises), with Birmingham – Scotland (via Preston) services transferring to Virgin West Coast and Manchester – Scotland (via Preston) services transferring to First TransPennine Express. Details of journey times from 9 December 2007 onwards are now available on www.nationalrail.co.uk.
The main timetable changes follow in December 2008, with the introduction of new train timings; carefully developed following an extensive DfT led consultation process. Our plans for this timetable (referred to as our 2009 timetable) will create a more simplified service, making better use of limited capacity at Birmingham New Street and providing consistent journey patterns across the day. Highlights include:
- a consistent pattern of services
- regular half-hourly services on key sections of the network including Birmingham to Bristol, Reading, Manchester, Sheffield and Leicester
- hourly direct services between Bristol and Manchester
- hourly through services for all destinations between Plymouth and Edinburgh (via Leeds), Reading and Newcastle (via Doncaster), Bournemouth and Manchester, Cardiff and Nottingham, Birmingham and Stansted Airport
- faster journey times on certain trains to the North East of England
- more late evening trains to and from Stansted Airport
- High Speed Trains on Edinburgh-Plymouth services and longer Voyagers on key routes providing much needed additional capacity
- Recognising that almost half of all journeys on the CrossCountry network require a change of train, we are also looking to make interchange easier for you through a combination of the best in modern technology, better equipped and more visible staff and a £1 million investment in additional ticket machines and information screens at key stations. We will also actively promote the use of alternative changing points to Birmingham New Street.
The consultation period for the December 2008 timetable has now closed, but the timetable consultation document can still be downloaded. All comments and feedback have been recorded and we are analysing the responses and will be discussing with them our industry partners. We will be providing further updates on the process next year.
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