CHILTERN Railway has moved to a reduced timetable starting tomorrow to ensure that vital train services for key workers can keep running throughout the worsening coronavirus outbreak.

The move reflects a major decrease in travellers as people were urged by the government to only use public transport when absolutely necessary.

Running reduced services is set to help protect the welfare of frontline railway employees essential for day-to-day operations.

The heavily amended timetable will remain in place until further notice, though service levels will be kept under a regular review.

Some of the key changes include removal of the weekday 7.22am and 8.22am from High Wycombe to London Marylebone and similarly the 5.13pm and 6.13pm from Marylebone to High Wycombe will no longer run.

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The 6.48am and 7.48am from Aylesbury to Marylebone are removed as well as the 5.27pm and 6.27pm from Marylebone to Aylesbury.

The Marylebone to Aylesbury via Amersham service will run in the morning and evening only.

The service will not run between 10am and 3pm, instead operating between Aylesbury and Amersham.

Customers looking to travel between Amersham and London will be asked to change onto Transport for London’s Metropolitan Line services.

Interim managing director of Chiltern Railways Mary Hewitt explained the new measures: "We have undertaken a detailed review of the numbers using our services and ensured that these changes will still provide enough space on our trains for customers to maintain social distancing.

"This revised timetable will ensure that Chiltern Railways can still continue to operate a reliable service throughout the current crisis."

Customers should check train times at chilternrailways.co.uk/coronavirus.