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Tuesday 7 Apr 2020

Passengers reminded only to make essential journeys this Easter

Region & Route:

National

• Only essential journeys should be made over the Easter weekend
• Reduced timetable will be in operation, while Network Rail’s reduced engineering works programme will also affect some routes
• People who do need to use the railway should check before they travel

Passengers are reminded to continue to follow Government advice and only use public transport for essential journeys over Easter, as Network Rail carries out a reduced and controlled programme of engineering work to maintain and upgrade the railway to improve passengers’ journeys.

Over recent weeks, the rail industry’s priority has been to restrict the number of people travelling on the network to those who cannot work from home and who rely on it to get to and from work, while also ensuring rail freight services can continue to move critical goods – for example, transporting medical supplies to hospitals, and food to supermarkets.

Passengers whose journeys are not essential are asked to please stay at home, help protect the NHS and help save lives.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “We are living and working in unprecedented times, throughout which our priority is to operate a safe and reliable railway so that people who can’t work from home can get to their jobs, and critical freight goods such as food and medicine can be distributed around the country.

“Please follow Government advice and only travel if your journey is absolutely essential. If you do need to travel, please check your journey ahead of time to see if it will be impacted by the work we’re doing on the railway this bank holiday. You can do this with your train operator or via National Rail Enquiries.

“Our rail workers are doing a vital job in keeping Britain connected, and their hard work will help to ensure the railway is at its best when the nation emerges from this Coronavirus pandemic.”

Notes to editors

• For the latest, most up-to-date travel advice, passengers whose journeys are essential this Easter should check National Rail Enquiries.
• Over the next few days, Network Rail’s regions will be providing more detail on which specific Easter projects have been impacted.