From Sunday 12 December 2021, train times across the UK will change as the rail industry switches to the Winter 2021/2022 timetable.
As you know from previous briefings, the effects of the pandemic continue to impact on our levels of driver availability, and in the run up to Christmas, we are expecting additional reduced crew availability given annual leave, flu season and side effects from the booster jab. Our partners at Network Rail are also delivering significant engineering upgrades and maintenance this Christmas while the railway is quieter, alongside changes to services around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and bank holidays.
As a result, our introduction of the Winter timetable is phased. The first three weeks, which include the Christmas holidays from Sunday 12 December 2021 to Monday 3 January 2022 inclusive will see several timetable revisions, and we will be working to encourage customers to check their journeys and sign up for alerts at www.nationalrail.co.uk
This phase will see a combination of some temporary reductions and changes, alongside some improvements where these are possible.
From Tuesday 4 January 2022 and as schools start to return, the last phase of the Winter 2021/2022 timetable will be in place. The last phase will see more Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink services running on weekdays, and will also see the return of Gatwick Express seven days per week, playing its part in the recovery of Gatwick Airport and with it the wider region.
