Faster journeys and earlier trains from Chesterfield to London coming in major timetable shake-up

The travel changes, being introduced by service operator East Midlands Railway, from Sunday, May 16, will mean the first weekday train to London St Pancras International will arrive an hour earlier, at 7.09am.

Presently, the first Chesterfield-London weekday train leaves at 5.44am and arrives at 8.09am – but from the timetable change a new earlier train will depart at 5.10am, arriving at 7.09am, with a 5.42am departure arriving at 7.39am.

The changes follow a widespread consultation into what passengers want – although there were some disappointed at the results, including anger that Alfreton is losing its direct service to the capital.

An EMR spokesman said: “Overall, these changes will provide more seats, quicker journeys and a simpler and more resilient timetable.”

From the timetable change, the last direct train from London to Sheffield will leave at 11.05pm, arriving at 1.52am, rather than 10.20pm as at present, arriving at 12.23am.

EMR says other benefits to Chesterfield include “quicker peak journey times to London”, “consistent” departure times throughout the day” and keeping the “fastest off-peak journey times to London to about one hour 45 minutes”.

Significant improvement

And there will be a full weekday timetable after 2pm on Sundays, which the operator describes as a “significant improvement” for the town.

Will Rogers, EMR managing director, described the changes, made possible by the £1.5 billion Midland Main Line upgrade, as “an exciting new chapter for train services in the region”.

He said: “This new timetable will bring significant benefits to the communities we serve – including a important uplift in our regional Sunday services.

“It has been an incredible team effort to put this timetable in place, especially during a period so heavily affected by Covid and that is why we are so proud to be able to launch this new timetable.

“It which will enable better regional and intercity connectivity – helping people get to work and enjoy their leisure time, and in turn boost our local economies at time when it’s never been so important.”

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