The launch of East Midlands Trains new timetable on 14 December 2008 is fast approaching.
This date will bring many changes for passengers on its network and some of the biggest improvements since 1999, with more trains on key routes, faster journey times, better connections and a more regular service across the whole network.
East Midlands Trains is now gearing up for the big launch and interviews with the media can be provided in the lead up to the launch – to arrange an interview call the press office on 01332 262010.
Highlights of the improvements are:
· Faster journey times to London
Passengers from Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester and Market Harborough will see significant improvements in journey times to London with current journey times being slashed by between 10 and 15 minutes.
· More available seats to London
By better use of its fleet the company will be able to offer more seats to London where they are most needed. Nottingham, Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough will all see a rise in the number of seats provided by between 700 and 2,000 more seats every weekday.
· Sunday services on the Robin Hood Line for the first time since the 1960s
For the first time since the 1960s, trains will run on a Sunday on the Robin Hood Line, offering a direct link between Mansfield, Nottingham and Worksop. This is a result of a partnership with local authorities, including Nottinghamshire County Council, who have long campaigned for this new service.
· New services linking Derby and Nottingham with Matlock and the Peak District
East Midlands Trains will be doubling the number of services it runs between Derby and Matlock improving the service to hourly. In addition all services will run through to Nottingham. Not only will this provide a much improved level of service for commuters, it will also link cities and towns in the region with the Peak District, helping to stimulate tourism in Derbyshire.
· More trains between Nottingham and Derby
The new Derby/Nottingham – Matlock service will see an increase in the number of trains between the two cities.
· Later trains
Our new timetable will see us providing later trains on routes from London, Nottingham and Leicester. Offering more opportunities for night owls to spend a night on the tiles!
· The first direct service from Lincoln to London
This brand new service will provide a direct train between Lincoln and London on weekdays and Saturdays. It will leave Lincoln at 07.08, arriving into the capital at 10.00, and return at 18.30, arriving back into Lincoln at 21.24. This service will also call at Collingham and Newark.
Commenting, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains said: “This is a very exciting time for us and our passengers. Next Sunday sees the dawn of a brand new era for everyone who travels with us. I believe this timetable is essential in helping East Midlands Trains continue to grow. It provides us with more opportunities and increased capacity on our route, enabling us to encourage more people to make rail their first choice for travel and in turn allowing us to reinvest in the railway. During our franchise we are pumping around £90m on fleet, depots and stations. Our new timetable will be pivotal to these improvements.
“I can’t wait for us to get cracking now. Roll on Sunday 14 December 2008 – an historic day for us and our passengers!”
Copies of the new timetable are available at East Midlands Trains’ stations and on the website, eastmidlandstrains.co.uk. Passengers can also register to receive their own personalised timetable by visiting eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/myjourneys