Hull Trains ready for return
STRONG BOOKINGS HIGHLIGHT ‘GREEN SHOOTS’ OF RECOVERY
HULL Trains returns for the Christmas run-on tomorrow after a second lockdown service stoppage. The open access operator, which has battled through without specific Government support, reintroduces the timetable it had built up to following the first pause.
Two return services will run Monday to Thursday, with five on Friday and six on Saturday and Sunday.
“We are absolutely delighted to be back,” Louise Cheeseman, managing director, said.
“We have had some amazing support from everyone in the city and wider region and bookings are coming back quite strongly, so that’s really positive. There are some real green shoots showing at the minute.”
The £60m Paragon fleet, which marks its first anniversary running passenger services on Saturday, remains at 50 per cent capacity as the Hulltrains team “makes sure people feel safe as they travel”.
A cleaner will be on board every service, concentrating on touch points, while all rolling stock has been treated with a special demisting product that has a 28-day lifecycle.
“Our safety measures remain in place, which includes socially distanced seats, a dedicated cleaner on every journey and our brand new live train tracker tool which lets people see how busy the train is real time before boarding,” Ms Cheeseman said.
“We are absolutely committed to getting through this period and coming out, there are some real positives with the vaccine and other signs,” she said of the situation, with the First Group company reliant on ticket sales to survive.
Staff were furloughed, but no further support has been made available, unlike franchise services.
They return from the November 5 suspension as the Christmas rush and student travel window kicks in.
The festive timetable will be impacted by engineering works at King’s Cross as part of the huge East Coast Main Line upgrade by Network Rail.
King’s Cross will be closed between Boxing Day and December 30, with no services operating. An amended timetable will be in play on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Ms Cheeseman added: “We continue to review the numbers of people travelling and will introduce more services as demand increases and it’s financially viable to do so.
“I would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support during a very challenging time, but the continued optimism and hard work of our people gives me confidence in the future of the business.”
We have had some amazing support from everyone in the city and wider region and bookings are coming back quite strongly, so that’s really positive Louise Cheeseman, managing director at Hull Trains