North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald has welcomed news that rail operator Govia Thameslink is considering making changes to the proposed timetable for Royston.
The original proposals included scrapping morning services starting at Royston, having off-peak services after 7.12pm running fast to Cambridge, and increased journey times for commuters.
In a letter to Sir Oliver, Govia’s stakeholder engagement manager Katherine Cox said that there may be a possibility of starting one Thameslink service an hour in the mornings from Royston and that fast northbound trains that were no longer going to stop at Royston after 19.12 will be reinstated.
Sir Oliver said: “I know commuters will be pleased to see that there has been some movement from Govia to try to meet the concerns of Royston commuters.
“Of course, we await the final timetable announcement in due course. I will continue to press the case for commuters in the constituency.”
Sir Oliver has been pushing for changes and encouraged the public to make their voices heard during a consulation, which closed on July 27.
Since then a petition by Royston & Villages Rail Users Group – formed in the wake of the proposal announcement – to reinstate the 19:12 service has amassed nearly 700 signatures, and the group has also met with Govia officials in a bid to make them reconsider plans.
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