Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Underground empty as Londoners heed warningsPeople in the capital have been asked to help stop the spread of the virus by working from home.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail and First bus services to be reduced as demand plummetsScotRail and bus operators are planning to cut services because of a “dramatic” drop in demand, perhaps to Sunday levels.

Reuters News

• German railway to give free passage to stranded holidaymakersGermany’s state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn said it would carry for free stranded holiday makers who could show air tickets or boarding passes as part of its efforts to help the government’s emergency repatriation programme.

London Evening Standard

• Darling, I'm on the Tube: first 4G Underground phone calls from tunnels able to be madeTube passengers will be able to make mobile calls in some Underground tunnels for the first time today.

Manchester Evening News

• TfGM say tram, bus and train services will be reduced in new statement over coronavirusTrams, buses and trains in Greater Manchester will continue to run during the period of Coronavirus lockdown, transport chiefs have said today.

Sheffield Star

• “It really isn’t fun getting wet nearly every day you want to travel by train” [letter]I read The Star’s story about the proposed changes around the railway station (The Star, March 11), and I noticed that as usual all the images selected by the planners/developers show a Sheffield basking in sunshine.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Coronavirus proves that HS2 is not needed as executives turn to SkypeTHE current coronavirus outbreak seems to have highlighted the use of telephone conferencing, Skype, and other forms of telecommunications.

Reading Evening Post

• Reading Buses service reduction announced amid coronavirus pandemicThe company has seen a dramatic reduction in numbers of people travelling on their services and have acted quickly to match demand

New Civil Engineer

• Three HS2 TBMs ordered before Oakervee review concludedMore than £52M was spent on three tunnel boring machines (TBMs) by High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) contractors last year before the Doug Oakervee chaired review into the scheme was concluded, NCE has discovered.

Rail Technology Magazine

• First passenger train in 80 years runs on Camp Hill Line For the first time in 80 years, a former railway line in south Birmingham today (March 16th) moved closer to reopening. Trains have not run along the Camp Hill line since 1941 but plans, orchestrated by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, are in place to open the line again with new stations at...
• Greater Anglia's new electric trains complete test run Rail operator Greater Anglia has begun testing the first of its brand-new electric commuter trains which will provide passengers with thousands of extra seats on their journeys to London. Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier is responsible for constructing the 111 electric trains for Greater Anglia...

Railnews

• Shapps confirms franchise contracts could be eased for virus emergency Transport secretary Grant Shapps has signalled that he is ready to consider easing franchise contracts, to help operators hit by sharply falling demand. Big London stations are much quieter than usual, reflecting a fall in passenger numbers which is said to be not far short of a fifth, although this has yet to be confirmed by the industry. Mr Shapps is holding meetings with franchise managers this week to see how services could be kept running for essential users.
• Railway suppliers urged to help with coronavirus ventilators Companies in the railway supply chain are being urged to help with the manufacture of coronavirus ventilators. The urgent appeal has come from Rail Forum Midlands, which is asking its railway industry members if they can help. The move follows the news that the government is seeking suppliers who may be able to contribute by making Covid-19 ventilators or parts for them.