EMR have advised that weekday peak-time Bedford calls are to be reinstated on certain trains, from as soon as tomorrow morning (Thursday 26th March).  The thinning out of train services has enabled Network Rail to respond swiftly to EMR's request to do this.   The relevant trains are: 

• 05:32 Nottingham - St Pancras - 06:51 at Bedford (MHR 06:19)
• 06:52 Nottingham - St Pancras - 08:02 at Bedford (MHR 07:33)
  
• 08:05 Nottingham - St Pancras - 09:17 at Bedford (MHR 08:46)
• 16:05 St Pancras - Nottingham - 16:40 at Bedford (MHR 17:08)
  
• 17:05 St Pancras - Nottingham - 17:39 at Bedford (MHR 18:07)
  
• 18:05 St Pancras - Nottingham - 18:39 at Bedford (doesn't stop at MHR)
  
• 19:32 St Pancras - Nottingham - 20:08 at Bedford (MHR 20:29)
  

Though this is an additional stop for our trains to and from London, it will be a big - albeit temporary - improvement for those travelling to and from Bedford.  

EMR state that the situation is under constant review and timetables may therefore change week by week.  They will publish details on their website:
https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/reduced-timetable 

The Department for Transport has announced that it will temporarily suspend normal rail franchise agreements and transfer all revenue and cost risk to the government for a limited period, initially six months.  Under ‘Emergency Measures Agreements’, train operators will continue to run services day-to-day for a small predetermined management fee.  For any operator not wishing to do this, the government’s ‘Operator of Last Resort’ stands ready to step in.
Alongside today's announcement, the Government has also confirmed that it will support the refund of Advance rail tickets and time unused on rail season tickets free of administration charges.
Further information is available at: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-ensures-ticket-refunds-and-protects-services-for-passengers-with-rail-emergency-measures 
and the written statement to Parliament by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, is available at: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-emergency-measures-during-the-covid-19-pandemic 
HRU welcomes measures to ensure that as good a train service as possible is maintained during this unprecedented crisis.  We offer our best wishes to all EMR staff engaged in delivering this service for those key workers in the NHS and elsewhere who depend on it.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop and day-to-day life continues to wind down for the time being, the UK rail industry has announced reductions to train services.  EMR has announced that EMR Intercity services will be reduced from start of service on Monday 23rd March to:

• One train per hour to and from Sheffield, calling at: Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Long Eaton, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Leicester, and London St Pancras International;
• One train per hour to and from Nottingham, calling at: Nottingham, Beeston, Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton Airport Parkway, and London St Pancras International;
• One hourly shuttle service between Corby and Kettering, to connect with Midland Main Line services.

Note: Calling patterns may differ during morning and evening peak periods.
This service pattern will be in place until further notice.  There will be reductions also to the EMR Regional services.  The intention, however, is to ensure all stations and lines of route remain open.
To quote EMR: 'The railway is not exempt from the effects of the virus but also has a critical role to play in supporting the country at this difficult time. This includes helping vital key workers continue to travel as well as responsibly following Government guidance to fight the spread of the virus.'
Further information including actual timetables will be published on the EMR website: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/reduced-timetable.

​In common with other train operators, EMR has issued advice on its response to the COVID-19 'coronavirus' crisis.  Though continuing to operate as normal a service as it can for the time being, EMR has withdrawn all on-train catering and has introduced more rigorous cleaning standards for trains and stations.   HRU wishes all EMR staff well as they go about their duties in these extraordinary circumstances.
The situation is changing almost daily but at the time of writing, the latest information from EMR is to be found on their website at:  https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/covid-19.