A NORTH-EAST rail operator has announced it is stepping up services as trains with cracks re-enter service after no safety risk was found.

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has reintroduced services and expects to operate a robust weekday timetable from today, May 17, as trains are safely returned into service.

Trains with cracks are to re-enter service after the rail industry assessed that the fault does not pose a safety risk.

A number of Hitachi Class 800 trains from several companies were removed from service last week for precautionary checks, including LNER which serves the North-East of England via the East Coast Mainline.

Hitachi, train operators and the government, with oversight from the rail regulator, have since agreed and implemented a service recovery plan for the safe reintroduction of the Class 800 trains, helping to get more passengers moving on the rail network.

LNER services north of Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness resumed over the weekend after the successful completion of further safety checks.

Weekday and Saturday services to and from Lincoln have also been reintroduced.

An amended timetable is in place until early next month while Network Rail continues to deliver East Coast Upgrade works at London King’s Cross station.

David Horne, LNER managing director, said: “I would like to thank our customers for their understanding over the past week and I am pleased we have since been able to step up our services.

"We continue to work together as an industry on the recovery plan for any affected trains, with all trains being checked before they leave the depot. Safety remains our top priority.”

Cleaning has been enhanced onboard trains and in stations. Customers must wear face coverings with travelling with us unless they are exempt.

The latest travel information and updates can be found at lner.co.uk, while all LNER services are reservation only.