East Midlands Railway (EMR) are reintroducing services cut in December and January due to the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Staff shortages caused by the strain led to widespread cuts to timetables to reduce short-notice cancellations.
EMR has reintroduced 33 regional Sunday services on routes such as Crewe-Derby, Nottingham-Matlock and Lincoln-Newark Northgate.
Passengers had voiced their frustration when the services were cut. In particular, changes to the Nottingham-Matlock line led to many people complaining that it had cut easy access to the countryside when it was most needed.
Sawley Parish Council even wrote to the railway company warning that if the service was not restored to full capacity, as promised by East Midlands Railways, then the railway firm would be reported by the council to the rail ombudsman and the Department for Transport.
The operator has also reinstated its full intercity timetable from today, boosting services to and from London St Pancras for Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield.
EMR said the increases are possible because of “steady improvements” in the number of Covid-related staff absences, and the resolution of a long-running dispute with the Rail, Maritime and Transport union over senior conductors.
Paul Barnfield, the rail’s firm’s operations director, said: “We are pleased to be able to reintroduce services to our network from this weekend.
“This is a positive step in the right direction and is made possible by the continued decline in Covid-related staff absences and the resolution of industrial disputes.”
Several other operators have increased timetables in recent weeks, including Avanti West Coast, South Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway and ScotRail.
Latest provisional Department for Transport figures show the number of journeys made on Britain’s railways is at around 70% of pre-pandemic levels.
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