A new rail timetable means that every train time has changed on Chiltern Railways.

Chiltern Railways' May 2023 timetable reflects ongoing rail recovery, changing commuter patterns and a boom in weekend leisure travel, the train operator said.

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"All of the changes are designed to put carriages and services where they are needed most throughout the week based on customer demand, with the aim of improving customer experience, connectivity between stations and the reliability of service," it said.  

Due to every train time on the network changing, it urged customers to "triple-check" their journey before they travel.  

North Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis recently raised concerns over overcrowding, the impact of rail strikes and services to London with the managing director of Chiltern Railways, Richard Allan.

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She said: "I was able to highlight a number of issues constituents have been experiencing recently, including overcrowding on carriages, disruption caused as a result of the Oxford-Didcot line closure and the effects of industrial action.”

Afterwards Ms Prentis described the meeting as "really useful".

Chiltern Railways said the closure of the Nuneham Viaduct has meant that services to and from Oxford have been much busier than usual and trains on this route passing through Bicester Village have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers.

Short-term alterations in the new timetable will increase services between Oxford and London while the closure is in place.

A spokesperson said: "While we have added approximately 4,000 seats along the route in response to this closure, some services have still been exceptionally busy and will continue to be until Network Rail complete repairs on the structure.

"They are expecting to do so by June 10. In the meantime, we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while these works take place." 

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On the impact of rail strikes it said it was aware of upcoming industrial action by members of the ASLEF and RMT unions, and will be communicating travel advice to customers in due course.

A spokesperson said: "On ASLEF strike days (May 31 and June 3), there will be no Chiltern Railways services on any route.

"We are working hard to confirm exact service levels on June 1 (overtime ban) and June 2 (RMT strike) and ensure these are in journey planners for customers as soon as possible."

After her meeting Ms Prentis said: “Richard assured me that Chiltern are taking these issues very seriously.

"I will continue to work with him closely moving forward.”