42 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

IRJ 3/30/20

 

European rail associations call for action from European Commission

 

 

FIVE European rail associations have sent a joint letter to the European Commission (EC) calling for concrete measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

 

SNIP

 

“We are well aware that keeping European mobility and logistics operational is essential,” the letter says. “All European rail operators, infrastructure managers and other service providers are doing their best in order to respond to the critical mobility needs in these dire times.”

 

The letter says that despite border closures and a drop of up to 90% in passenger numbers in some countries, operators are continuing to provide services where possible to allow medical and other essential staff to commute to work. It adds that infrastructure managers are doing their best to enable all operators to deliver services, but will suffer if less services operate due to a reduction in the liquidity provided by track access charge revenues.

 

A massive effort is underway by European rail freight companies, combined transport and wagonload freight operators, wagon keepers, workshops and mobile services to maintain operations, the letter says. However, operational difficulties and a significant drop in the services between Europe and China will have a further negative impact on rail freight operators.

 

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[KevinKorell]

AP via MSN, 4/5/20:

 

  France turns to speedy trains to catch up in virus response 

 

 

The high-speed train whooshing past historic World War I battle zones and through the chateau-speckled Loire Valley carried a delicate cargo: 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients and the machines helping keep them alive.

 

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[CNJRoss]

IRJ 4/3/20
 

Talgo and Renfe refit high-speed trains to carry coronavirus patients

 

 

Talgo says it has voluntarily made all its staff and material resources available to the Spanish government to convert trains into mobile ambulances.

 

The trains selected by Renfe are low-floor with step-free entry, which will facilitate the transfer of patients and speed up transport.  .  .  .

 

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[CNJRoss]

IRJ 4/3/20
 

Leo Express business at risk due to coronavirus crisis

 

 

CZECH private operator Leo Express is facing a difficult future after a dramatic fall in revenue due to service cutbacks introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, board member and former CEO Mr Peter Köhler has revealed to IRJ.

 

Köhler says Leo Express is operating at around 10% of its normal service capacity and carrying just 5% of usual passengers. The operator is maintaining a skeleton service on its open-access routes as well as meeting its Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract obligations on trains it operates in the Czech region of Pardubice.

 

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[KevinKorell]

BBC, 5/2/20:

 

   Coronavirus: Government £30m bailout for light rail  

 

 

 

The government has announced £30m to keep trams and metro trains running for key workers for 12 more weeks.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

The Guardian, 5/4/20:

 

   Use of public transport could be discouraged as lockdown ends – IFS     

 

 

The price of a bus, train or tube ticket during peak commuting hours could be raised relative to the cost of off-peak travel to prevent crowding and the spread of coronavirus on public transport, according to a leading thinktank.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

Guardian, 5/18/20:

 

  Commuters heed warning to avoid train network in England  

 

 

 

Commuters have been heeding the government’s warning to avoid the train network, after rail operators reported a small increase in passenger numbers despite providing more services as England edged back to work.

 

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[KevinKorell]

The Conversation, 5/20/20:

 

  How coronavirus could usher in a new ‘golden age’ of rail travel 

 

 

 

Quietly, outside of the public gaze, a revolution has started on Britain’s railways. On March 23, COVID-19 destroyed the railway industry as it had existed for the past 25 years. As concerns about virus transmission grew, passenger numbers reduced by 80% before the official lockdown even began

 

Article

[CNJRoss]

IRJ 5/26/20
 

German railway alliance formed to rescue DB

 

 

THE German federal government, German Rail (DB), and a rail union have formed a ‘railway alliance’ to agree a financial rescue package for DB in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The agreement was announced on May 26 by federal transport minister, Mr Andreas Scheuer, the CEO of DB, Dr Richard Lutz, the provisional chairman of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), Mr Klaus-Dieter Hommel, and DB Group Works Council member Mr Jens Schwarz. 

 

The objective is to cope with the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on DB so that DB’s Strong Rail strategy and associated expansion and modernisation programme as well as recruitment and training can continue. “This gives employees the necessary security and stability for their jobs and job prospects,” the partners say.

 

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[KevinKorell]

Metro, 6/26/20:

 

   Are non-essential trips on public transport allowed?   

 

 

 

 

It’s fair to assume that most people are utterly fed up with coronavirus now, with the lockdown, the change to our routines and missing out on a lot of big events, including Glastonbury – which would be happening now if it weren’t for the virus – being just a few reasons why.

 

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