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

Monday, 30 March 2020

Government

• Critical rail services protected in new deals for GWR and SoutheasternVital connections between the South of England and Wales ensured during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Hull Trains axes all services amid outbreakHull Trains has axed all its services because of the "unprecedented circumstances" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Guardian

• Hull Trains becomes first British operator to suspend all servicesChief of rail operator says decision is aimed at protecting its long-term future. Hull Trains is to become the first British rail operator to suspend all services, after cancelling trains between London and the port city until further notice due to the unprecedented circumstances� caused by coronavirus. The company, part of rail operator FirstGroup, said it has been forced into the decision to safeguard the future of the business, after passenger numbers dwindled following government advice to avoid nonessential travel.

Times Online

• Rail services face threat of further cuts [subscription]Train operators are warning privately that they may have to scale back services even further than the drastic cuts imposed already because the spread of coronavirus is stretching their workforce.
• Railways will go electric to halt pollution rise from diesel trains [subscription]A new programme to convert Britain’s railways to electric power will be rolled out after the government admitted that greenhouse gases from trains will rise by a fifth in the next three decades.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Mind The Gap: Student's £100bn plan for West Yorks Underground including BradfordPLANS for a potential £100billion underground system for West Yorkshire, including many areas of the Bradford district, have been drawn up by a student.

The York Press

• York's railway stations old and newWe've dug out some great photographs of York railway station (both the old one and the new one) for you this week from Explore York's new-look digital archive, Explore York Images.

Yorkshire Post

• Hull Trains suspends all services 'to safeguard long-term future'Hull Trains is suspending all trains from midnight to safeguard the long-term future of the business, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Other Regional Press

• Buses to replace trains as Tarka Line shutsFrom Monday, March 30, to Saturday, April 4, buses rather than trains will run between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple. A separate shuttle bus will serve Yeoford, running to and from Crediton.

Railnews

• Hull Trains suspends all services indefinitely Hull Trains has cancelled all its services between London and Hull from today. The move follows declining demand as a result of coronavirus travel restrictions. There have already been sharp reductions in the timetables of franchised operators, and the Gatwick Express service of Govia Thameslink Railway has also ceased today. Franchised operators are now operating as management contracts with a payment capped at 2 per cent of each franchise™s ˜cost base™. Hull Trains said franchised operators had been offered ˜additional financial support™, but this is not available to open access operators l...