GTR responds to key worker demands with extra services

Govia Thameslink Railway has responded to calls from key workers and their employers to add services. Around 20 changes to passenger services have been made, with a further 12 expected in the week commencing April 20.

The improvements are mainly concentrated on Southern metro services in South London, on East Sussex coastal routes, and on the Arun Valley between Three Bridges and Bognor Regis.

Additional trains on the latter run are mainly to serve the staff of NHS supplier Hydrochem, which manufactures a substantial proportion of the UK’s hospital disinfectants.

Another service is a direct morning train from Sutton to London Bridge for workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, who wrote to GTR asking if it could help them avoid having to change trains at busy junctions, to protect them from unnecessary risk of infection.

GTR provided the new service the very next day, and is now looking to add a return evening service.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 903, published on April 22, and available digitally from April 18.

• For the FULL story regarding the railway's ongoing response to the COVID-19 situation, read RAIL 903, published on April 22, and available digitally from April 18.