SWR to reduce some services in temporary timetable that could also help Arterio roll-out

South Western Railway is reducing the number of some off-peak summer services in a temporary timetable.

From July 28-August 29, there will be fewer trains between London Waterloo and destinations in Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire, and within south west London.

Passengers are being advised to check SWR’s journey planner before setting off.

Stations affected included Guildford, Woking, Reading, Windsor, Alton, Shepperton and Richmond.

In a statement to RAIL, a spokesperson for the train operator said: “The summer timetable sees a small reduction in services – less than 5% of our 1,600 daily services, at a time when…customer numbers drop by 12-15%.

“The services we have removed are those with the lowest forecast demand.”

The company states this is to enable driver training on the Arterio trains. More than five and a half years after they were due in service, 14 of the 90 Class 701 trains are now in daily use.

The trains, which were designed for driver-only operation, are being worked with guards closing the doors at stations.

The spokesperson explained: “The timetable reduction will help protect the driver training programme so we can roll out even more Arterios in the coming months, while minimising the risk of on-the-day cancellations due to colleagues taking their annual leave during the school holidays.”

It is also expected that an emergency timetable will be introduced on the West of England line during the next few weeks.

Severe speed restrictions are anticipated on drying-out clay embankments on long single-line stretches between Salisbury and Exeter, leading to a reduced service of only one train every two hours in each direction.