Covid train schedules threaten to wreck return to the office

Boris Johnson’s plan for workers to return to their daily commute is under threat as rail operators run stripped-down train timetables until the end of February.

The Prime Minister last week scrapped official guidance for people to work from home. But commuters risk being deterred from returning to the office by sparse services and overcrowded trains for another month, campaigners say.

Rail operators have implemented emergency timetables in recent weeks as they combat omicron-related staff absences. More than one in four trains have been cut on some lines under crisis scheduling to avoid cancellations.

The Telegraph can disclose that Govia Thameslink and South Western Railway, two of Britain’s biggest rail networks, which provide vital services into London, expect to continue running the emergency timetable until mid- and late-February respectively.

Govia Thameslink includes the Southern, Thameslink and Greater Northern lines. Most other rail lines are also expected to delay returning to pre-omicron schedules for several weeks, the Telegraph understands.

The move will come as a blow to Mr Johnson, who last week called for Britain to return to “complete normality”. Plan B measures will be formally dropped from next Thursday.

The announcement put him at loggerheads with union leaders over demands that Whitehall staff return to “normal working patterns”, while some teachers are resisting the end of face masks in classrooms.

Meanwhile, commuter groups fear that the emergency rail timetable could remain in place permanently.

Emma Gibson from London Travelwatch said: “No one returning to the office this week will want to turn up at their local station and find their train isn’t running or face overcrowding when their train does turn up.

“We’ve been asking train companies to make sure that they increase the number of trains on their routes as soon as they can to take account of increasing demand from commuters. Temporary cuts to train services due to Covid must not become the norm.”

Angie Doll, Govia Thameslink operating chief, said: “Our customers tell us they want a reliable service, not lots of last-minute cancellations and that has always been at the heart of our decision making.

“This timetable ensures services are as reliable as possible when fewer staff are available due to the effects of coronavirus. We’re really sorry if this affects your journey.”

A spokesman for South Western Railway said: “While staff shortages caused by the spread of omicron still pose significant challenges to the operation of our railway, we continue to carefully monitor the situation and keep our timetable under constant review.

“Throughout this challenging period, we are doing all we can to ensure that we meet customer demand. That’s why, following an increase in staff availability, we are already reintroducing some services from this coming Monday, and will make further additions as soon as it is possible to do so.”

A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: “As they have throughout the pandemic, rail companies are acting sensibly by making sure the number of trains they run reflects the number of passengers.

“This means people can get where they need to be while also not taking more than our fair share from taxpayers who are supporting the railway while fewer people take the train.

“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people travel. Train travel is crucial to a green economic recovery for our towns and cities. As passengers return, we will monitor timetables closely running services which fit changed travel patterns so that rail is an attractive choice.”