42 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

International Railway Journal, 3/11/20:

 

 

European train operators respond to coronavirus epidemic 

 

 

SEVERAL European train operators have announced measures in response to the worsening coronavirus epidemic including more stringent train cleaning, steps to protect staff, ticket refunds without penalty, and cancellation of services.

 

Full story

[KevinKorell]

Mirror, 3/23/20:

 

 

  Coronavirus: Fury as rush hour commuters cram onto trains despite warnings of lockdown  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos of packed train carriages and station platforms during the morning commute have sparked shock, anger and calls for a "total lockdown" during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

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[CNJRoss]

IRJ 3/19/20
 

AllRail forecasts €540m hit for private passenger rail operators

 

 

EUROPE’s Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (AllRail) says its members are facing huge drops in passenger numbers and revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

“I am forecasting a €540m negative impact from the middle of March until the end of 2020, based on lost revenue due to demand being suppressed,” AllRail’s secretary general, Mr Nick Brooks, told IRJ.

 

SNIP

 

Priority for rail

 

AllRail is calling for train operators to be given priority over short-haul airlines for state support during the coronavirus pandemic. “We welcome yesterday’s statement by European Commission executive vice-president, Ms Margrethe Vestager, for a temporary state aid framework to support the economy,” Brooks said on March 18. “However, we call on it to prioritise applications according to levels of pollution.”  .  .  .

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

IRJ, 3/23/20
 

English passenger rail franchises suspended for six months

 

 

BRITAIN’s Department for Transport (DfT) has switched all English passenger rail franchises into management contracts for six months to prevent operators becoming insolvent.

 

At the same time, services are being cut drastically to bring them more in line with demand which has fallen steeply. Passenger numbers are down by 70% due to the coronavirus and revenue has dropped by two-thirds, but the government wants to maintain a minimum level of service for essential workers and travel.

 

All revenue and cost risk is being transferred to the government for six months initially.  .  .  .

 

SNIP

 

The ScotRail and Transport for Wales franchises are managed by the Scottish and Welsh governments.

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

IRJ 3/19/20
 

German rail industry warns of significant impact on supply chains

 

 

GERMANY’s Rail Industry Association (VDB) is warning that the railway manufacturing supply chain faces significant impact due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

“The supply chains of the rail industry in our country are fundamentally strong, highly diversified and very resilient,” the VDB says. “It is important, however, that clear priorities are now quickly set in order to continue to ensure the essential performance of the rail industry. The strictest precautionary measures apply where operation must be maintained.”

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Aged Post

 

The Guardian, 3/20/20
 

Train services across Britain to be stripped back from Monday

 

Ministers and operators to slim timetables after Covid-19 causes 70% fall in passengers

 

 

Train services are to be pared back across Britain from Monday as passengers are urged to stop all non-essential travel to slow the spread of coronavirus.

 

Ministers and rail operators across England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to make progressive cuts to timetables, with the aim of keeping core services running – but reflecting a drop of almost 70% in passenger numbers since the outbreak started.

 

The government and industry decision will also enable rail freight services to run effectively.

 

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[CNJRoss]

IRJ 3/25/20
 

DB to continue to pay workers impacted by coronavirus as German services cut back

 

 

GERMAN Rail (DB) has concluded an agreement with two trade unions, EVG and GDL, confirming that there will be no layoffs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The ‘Together Against Corona’ agreement also allows parents who do not have childcare cover following school and day care closures to take a total of 15 days leave fully paid. Workers unable to conduct their normal daily activities due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus measures and with no options available to continue activity remotely will also receive full pay.

 

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[KevinKorell]

Independent, 3/26/20:

 

  Coronavirus: Is it safe to travel on the tube, bus and train during lockdown?  

 

 

 

As the UK approaches the end of the first week under lockdown, some people may find they haven’t left their house for several days.

 

However, for keyworkers and those who can’t do their jobs remotely, travelling by public transport might still be a part of daily life.

 

Read it

[CNJRoss]

IRJ 3/26/20
 

Associations team up to urge European public transport continuity and survival

 

 

THE International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and other like-minded associations have sent an open letter to the European Union to urge basic continuity and the survival of public transport despite the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The UITP together with the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Mangers (CER), Polis, Eurocities, and the permanent delegation to the EU (IRU) sent the letter to Ms Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Mr Charles Michel, president of the European Council, and Mr David Maria Sassoli, president of the European Parliament.

 

The group says that maintaining basic public transport services is vital for European citizens carrying out essential functions. They also want a guarantee that protection equipment will be made available to safeguard the health and safety of public transport workers.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

MyLondon 3/27/20
 

London coronavirus: Transport for London sends 13 million emails telling Londoners to stop using the London Underground

 

Staff keeping the network running have been described as 'heroic'

 

 

The number of people using Tube and rail services has dropped by 92 per cent, according to London's Transport Commissioner.

 

The new figures also show that passenger numbers have dropped by almost 80 per cent on buses.

 

The data was released by Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown, who said that around 13 million emails have been sent to customers, encouraging them not to travel using public transport.

 

Continue here.