By TransPennine Express services nearly halved
Train services from Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes by TransPennine Express have almost halved in recent months.
The route which calls at Doncaster, Sheffield, Stockport, and Manchester now operates only eleven times a day, a drastic decrease from the former timetable of hourly services.
The new timetables were announced back in January “due to the disruption being caused by increased levels of sickness”.
Managing director Matthew Golton said the timetable changes would affect all routes and was due to “the ongoing impact of Covid and the Omicron variant, as well as some industrial relations issues”.
“While we are disappointed to be making these changes and reducing services, our priority is keeping people moving,” he said.
“We will continue to regularly review these changes in line with the current situation.”
TransPennine added that the new timetable would provide certainty for customers as it would reduce the chance of last-minute cancellations.
On the new timetabled services usually begin at 05.05 am from Cleethorpes and 05.13 am from Grimsby Town.
TransPennine Express trains from Grimsby Town then depart at 06.34am, 08.34am, 10.34am, 12.34pm, 14.34pm, 15.34pm, 16.34pm, 18.34pm, 20.34pm and 21.34pm.
In recent weeks strike action has also been held by TransPennine conductors, who requested and were denied an increase in pay for working on their days off and on Sundays throughout the pandemic.
Services to and from Grimsby and Cleethorpes were affected as a result.
Back in October 2021, the service provider also announced that trains would no longer call at Manchester Airport, instead of terminating at Manchester Picadilly much to the disappointment of travelers.
Have you been affected by the reduced service? Let us know in the comments!
