Reduced timetable from Monday 18 January 2021

The following information has been received from Govia Thameslink Railway:

Following the introduction of a third national lockdown and increasing numbers of people becoming directly affected by coronavirus, I am writing to outline the impact this will have on train services.  

Our aim is always to run as reliable a service as possible and one that meets the needs and demands of our customers. The rail industry has announced that there will be timetable reductions made to reflect the very small numbers of people currently travelling and the impact of coronavirus on railway staff.

For Govia Thameslink Railway, this means that we will introduce a reduced timetable from Monday 18 January 2021 across Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern railway services. Other train operators across the United Kingdom are introducing similar changes.

We have used the feedback gathered from March onwards last year, to ensure that as many of those trains that are most needed by key workers and schools will remain in the system and protected as far as possible and are doing everything we can to ensure that accurate information is provided as quickly as possible for those who need it.

As this briefing explains, the change on the 18th January will reduce Thameslink services between Horsham and Peterborough and Great Northern services between King’s Cross and Ely / King’s Lynn.

On the Southern network, it will reduce metro services between London Bridge and Beckenham Junction/Crystal Palace, and between London Bridge and Caterham / Tattenham Corner.

Similar to the process used in March 2020, the changes from the 18 January 2021 represent a short-term change. We are developing a longer-term timetable for introduction towards the end of February to reflect as much of the feedback and input as possible that stakeholders and customers have kindly provided over the past ten months.

We know that the current situation is very challenging for people right across the UK. Our priority remains to provide a safe and reliable service for the key workers who are supporting the UK through this challenging time and we would like to thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

We have relied on the feedback of our stakeholders and customers throughout the past year to create timetable designs that are built around the needs of those who most need our services.