31 March: news in brief

LNER restores trains to Hull

LNER has stepped in to plug some of the gaps in the former Hull Trains timetable. The open access operator withdrew all its services from the start of this week as a result of falling demand. LNER had removed its Hull services as part of the general reduction in timetables last week, but will now run four trains from today. These are 05.47 Doncaster to Hull, 06.58 Hull to London King’s Cross, 17.18 London King’s Cross to Hull and 20.29 Hull to Doncaster. LNER said its priority was to ‘provide immediate assistance’ for key workers relying on trains between Hull, Selby, Brough and London.

West Country main line reopens

NETWORK RAIL has completed a two-week blockade which had closed the Great Western main line between Castle Cary and Taunton while nine separate upgrades were completed. The work involved replacing bridges, improving tunnel drainage and reinforcing embankments. Network Rail said it would have taken several months to complete the various jobs separately, and that the resulting disruption to train services would have lasted much longer. The line carries regular intercity trains and also freight traffic carrying essential supplies.

Back to News