East Midlands Trains’ passengers are set to benefit from further improvements to their journeys with the launch of the rail operator’s new timetable on 11 December 2011.

The new timetable will deliver a number of additional services and improved connections for many passengers in the East Midlands region.

The key improvements included in the new timetable are:

Weekdays
An earlier morning service from London St Pancras to Sheffield.  This train will leave at the earlier time of 05.45 to provide an arrival into Sheffield at 08.25.  It will call at Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough,Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway,Long Eaton, Derby and Chesterfield.  It will provide a more convenient service for passengers commuting into Sheffield and will allow earlier connections for passengers connecting at Sheffield for services further north, and at Leicester for Birmingham and Stansted Airport. Passengers from south of Derby will be able to get to Manchester 26 minutes earlier,York 46 minutes earlier and Newcastle 51 minutes earlier. Passengers from stations south of Leicester will be able to get to Stansted Airport one hour earlier and Birmingham 26 minutes earlier.
Wellingborough will gain an extra service at 07.22 to Leicester, Derby and Sheffield.
An additional morning service from Ambergate to Derby.  This service will run on Mondays-Fridays, departing from Ambergate at 0656, calling at Belper at 07.01, Duffield at 07.05 and arriving into Derby at 07.13. This train   will provide improved connections for passengers travelling to Leicester, Nottingham, Birmingham and London.
Two additional afternoon services for passengers travelling between Spondon and Nottingham.
Additional morning stops at Bingham, Lowdham and Rauceby.
Additionalweekday afternoon service between Lincoln and Newark Northgate.

Weekends
·      Faster journey times on many Sunday afternoon services to London.
·      An additional service from Dronfield to Liverpool on Sundays.

David Horne, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains, said:  “Our major timetable change back in December 2008resulted in some of the biggest changes passengers have seen on this network. This has been a great success with marked improvements in both punctuality and customer satisfaction.

“However, we want to continue building on that success, and have been listening to feedback from our passengers,and working with local authorities to see how we can improve our services even further. 

“We’re confident that the new timetable will deliver some great improvements for our passengers.”

In addition to the timetable changes, East Midlands Trains will be making further improvements to its First Class on-board menu from Monday 12 December.  Three new hot dishes willbe added to the menu priced at just £4.95 per meal.  These include Thai Chicken Curry, Beef in Ale and Yorkshire Pudding, Vegetable Dhal with Naan Bread.

Copies of the timetables are available a trail stations and can also be downloaded electronically at www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk