Coronavirus: What's it like to work on the train in lockdown? [BBC News]





Date: 29/04/2020

It used to be a daily scramble for seats on many railway journeys, but the country^s trains have gone from booming passenger numbers to almost empty.
On East Midlands Railway, which runs a key route from Sheffield to London, some services are averaging just six passengers.
But they are continuing to run to get key workers to their jobs.
Train manager Matt Dawson said sometimes it was a ^very surreal^ experience with little more than a handful of people travelling.


External links

Working on a 'ghost' train on England's railway
Train empty bar one passenger

BBC News

No more jostling for seats - coronavirus lockdown turns railway journeys into 'ghost' trains.

Related news items

Tags: x Covid-19

DateItem
15/08/2020Doon Valley Railway Museum risks 20,000 loss after virus [Cumnock Chronicle]
11/08/2020ScotRail trials school train for Oban High School pupils [The Oban Times]
08/08/2020Rail body calls for sleeper trains to use Channel Tunnel due to rise in post-Covid eco-tourism [Daily Mail]
08/08/2020How part-time commuters can save money on peak-time rail travel [The Guardian]
01/08/2020Severn Valley Railway restarts passenger services [BBC News]
29/07/2020Scotland's rail services to be increased as Covid restrictions ease [BBC News]
29/07/2020At-seat food and drink service to launch on LNER trains [Mail Online]
23/07/2020Coronavirus: ScotRail offers free travel for unemployed and even more once they get a job [Clydebank Post]
20/07/2020New Carlisle to Settle services aim to 'kick-start' tourism [BBC News]
18/07/2020LNER 'not running coronavirus safe service' [Scotsman]
16/07/2020Coronavirus in Scotland: Physical distancing on Arran ferries 'unrealistic' for tourism [BBC News]
14/07/2020Calls for return of Caledonian Sleeper to boost tourism in Aberdeen as Fort William trips resume | Press and Journal [Press and Journal]
13/07/2020North-east MP hopes for return of night train [Evening Express]
08/07/2020Coronavirus: Transport giant First warns of 'uncertain' future [BBC News]
07/07/2020Blackpool trams to resume as UK light rail operators reflect government guidance [Ralway Gazette]
07/07/2020Glasgow Subway to get share of £9m emergency cash [Evening Times]
06/07/2020Donation will secure the future of Govan's TS Queen Mary [Evening Times]
03/07/2020New community rail group hopes to promote tourism on Far North line in Caithness and Sutherland; People with a 'passion for trains' invited to put their names forward to become trustees [Northern Time
02/07/2020Boris Johnson urged to back Borders Railway extension bid as part of £5bn new deal [Southern Reporter]
01/07/2020Coronavirus: Grand Central trains announces 'measured' return [BBC News]
30/06/2020Restoring pre-Covid service 'could take two years' as TOCs face logistical hurdles [Ralway Gazette]
30/06/2020Construction work restarts on new north-east station after pause during lockdown [Evening Express]
30/06/2020Network Rail to restart Queen Street project after investing £64m in Scotland in lockdown [Network Rail]
28/06/2020Pentland Venture to remain tied up as ferry season is cancelled [John O Groat Journal]
27/06/2020What next for the UK's deserted public transport network? [The Guardian]
27/06/2020Dont eat or drink on train journeys [The Times]
25/06/2020Island ferry operators asked to provide 'isolation facilities' for positive Covid-19 tourists [Scotsman]
25/06/2020Britain's railways will be 'renationalised' using coronavirus measures [Mail Online]
24/06/2020Tree cutting resumes on East Kilbride and Barrhead lines. [Network Rail]
24/06/2020'Hogwarts Express' passengers set to wear face masks as journeys get back on track [Scotsman]
24/06/2020Daily tourist trains to serve England's 'most scenic' railway [Railway Gazette]
23/06/2020Staff at CalMac's Gourock nerve centre have been praised for rising to challenges brought on by coronavirus pandemic [Greenock Telegraph]
22/06/2020Coronavirus: Fears over future of Hull Trains [BBC News]
17/06/2020Covid-19 Update - The Jacobite [West Coast Railways]
15/06/2020SNCF launches unprecedented regional rail and tourism campaign [Railway Gazette International]
11/06/2020Coronavirus: Swanage Railway's future 'on a knife edge' [BBC News]
11/06/2020NorthLink reports 95% drop in passenger numbers over nine-week period due to coronavirus [John O Groat Journal]
10/06/2020Call for HS2 to run to Scotland and cut London rail journey time to three hours [Scotsman]
10/06/2020Coronavirus: Free face coverings could be offered on Scotlands trains [Press and Journal]
09/06/2020Borders Railway extension vital to get regions economy back on track after lockdown, say campaigners [Southern Reporter]
05/06/2020Digital alerts to warn UK rail passengers of busy trains and stations [The Guardian]
04/06/2020Four new railway stations for Wales proposed to be built by 2024 [BBC News]
03/06/2020Borders Railway extension 'more important now than ever' [BBC News]
03/06/2020Scotrail blast group of 30 people who travelled to the Scottish seaside together [Scotsman]
15/05/2020Billions to be invested in roads and railways during coronavirus lockdown [Strathspey and Badenoch Herald]
14/05/2020Covid-19 unlikely to impact Alstom's acquisition of Bombardier [Railway Technology]
14/05/2020Network Rail issues warning as more than 1,000 trespass incidents recorded during COVID-19 lockdown [Network Rail]
14/05/2020ScotRail lays Covid-19 distance markers at Scotland's biggest train stations in time for lockdown restrictions being eased [Scotsman]
13/05/2020'Don't flood public transport' Grant Shapps warns as England heads back to work [Metro]
13/05/2020CalMac's reduced Covid-19 timetable to remain in place for two more months [Ross-shire Journal]
13/05/2020Transport Secretary Michael Matheson reveals the £250 million cost of keeping the trains running during the coronavirus pandemic [Press and Journal]
12/05/2020Increase to Scottish rail services planned from Monday if lockdown restrictions ease [Scotsman]
08/05/2020Coronavirus: Rail services to be increased as travel restrictions ease [BBC News]
08/05/2020Coatdyke railway viaduct shines in honour of coronavirus frontline workers [Daily Record]
07/05/2020Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel lighting up blue for NHS and all critical workers [Network Rail]
06/05/2020COVID-19: meet the railway heroes [RAIL]
30/04/2020Transporting waste on vital freight service helps to create enough renewable energy to power 50,000 homes [Network Rail]
29/04/2020Captain Tom: Train named in honour of NHS fundraiser [BBC News]
29/04/2020ScotRail staff banned from using whistles to stop coronavirus spread [Scotsman]
25/04/2020Edinburgh tram extension could be derailed by financial impact of COVID-19, warn Tories [Edinburgh News]
24/04/2020Will there be social distancing on trains, after the pandemic? [BBC News]
24/04/2020Extra services to support key workers at NHS Louisa Jordan [ScotRail]
22/04/2020Bailout expected for UK city transport networks crippled by Covid-19 [The Guardian]
22/04/2020Pandemic forces Calmac to abandon their 2020 intake of apprentices [Ardrossan Herald]
17/04/2020Cromarty-Nigg ferry suspended until 2021 due to coronavirus [Ross-shire Journal]
17/04/2020Stay home, stay safe, stay off the railway [Network Rail]
15/04/2020Covid-19: India suspends passenger railway operations until 3 May [Railway Technology]
09/04/2020Supermarket stock takes scenic route during Covid-19 lock-down [Network Rail]
07/04/20203D-printed handles aim to reduce hand contact with train doors [Railway Gazette]
02/04/2020One million tonnes of critical supplies transported weekly along the West Coast main line during Covid-19 crisis [Network Rail]
02/04/2020Iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct which features in Harry Potter films to light up blue for NHS heroes [Scotsman]
02/04/2020New temporary timetable for NorthLink ferry services [John O Groat Journal]
01/04/2020Non-key Scottish road, rail and ferry workers must be stood down - unions [Scotsman]
29/03/2020Kintore station work halted [Grampian Online]
27/03/2020Scotlands Railway appeals for former signallers to help keep vital services moving [Network Rail]
26/03/2020CalMac introduces 'Essential Lifeline Timetable' amidst coronavirus pandemic [Ardrossan Herald]
24/03/2020Covid-19:Railway maintenance continues to keep critical supply lines open [Network Rail]
23/03/2020Covid-19: government suspends rail franchise agreements [The Guardian]
22/03/2020Amended timetable from Sunday 22nd March [Caledonian Sleeper]
20/03/2020Network Rail announces new measures to support retailers and tenants [Network Rail]
20/03/2020Caledonian Sleeper reduces services and amends refund policy due to COVID-19 outbreak [Caledonian Sleeper]
19/03/2020Coronavirus: CalMac to operate 'turn up and go' service during outbreak [Press and Journal]
18/03/2020Harry Potter line steam train to launch despite coronavirus [Scotsman]