Train services across the UK will be reduced as the country tackles the coronavirus epidemic.

The measures, agreed by the government and the rail industry, will be gradually introduced from Monday.

Key services will still be running to make sure people can get to work, travel to medical appointments and goods will be transported.

The Department for Transport says demand for rail travel has fallen by up to 69% on some routes since the prime minister issued advice to stop all non-essential journeys.

People are being advised to check the National Rail Enquiries website before they travel.

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said: “We are taking decisive action to protect the public which means reducing travel for the time being, whilst still ensuring key worker heroes can get to their jobs to keep this nation running.

“For passengers in crucial roles, including essential workers in our emergency services and NHS, alongside people who need to attend medical appointments or care for loved ones, these changes protect the services they rely on.

“Our railways are at the heart of this country’s transport links, and we continue to work closely with the industry to develop measures that protects operators in these challenging times.”

Similar measures will be implemented in Scotland and Wales.

It follows a partial shutdown of the London Underground which began on Thursday, with up to 40 stations closed “until further notice”.

The Waterloo and City line will be closed and Night Tube services have been suspended.

Transport for London (TfL) is also planning to reduce the frequency of services across its network across the capital from Monday.

However Downing Street has said there is “zero prospect” of restrictions on travel in and out of London.

Meanwhile, Eurostar has slashed its timetables due to demand collapsing.

The Cross-Channel rail operator is running just 10 trains on Friday, compared with its usual schedule of 56.

The reduced timetable consists of three trains between London and Paris and two between London and Brussels, in each direction.

No services will operate between London and Amsterdam, Disneyland Paris or the French Alps.

The government has also outlined details of new emergency powers designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in its Emergency Coronavirus Bill.

The new measures will only be used when “absolutely necessary” and not all of them will come into force immediately.

Among the measures are plans to allow police and immigration officers the power to detain a person and quarantine them if they are, or might be, infectious.

The legislation will also allow recently-retired doctors or medical students to be registered as regulated healthcare professionals, and for social workers who have recently left the profession to be temporarily added to registers.

Source: Read Full Article