Further train service reductions ahead

NEW reductions in train services are set for Monday, as the demand for travel continues to fall. West Midlands Trains has already confirmed that it will be reducing its timetables again. Some longer journeys will involve a change of train, such as between Birmingham New Street and London Euston, because passengers will need to change at Northampton. WMT managing director Julian Edwards said: ‘The rail industry is facing our biggest challenge in peacetime. We are working together to operate a regular service for our key workers and those making only the most essential journeys. With increased numbers of rail workers entering self-isolation due to coronavirus and a big drop in passenger numbers, now is the right time to make further changes to our service. As the government has made clear, people should only use the train for essential journeys. I would like to pay special tribute to our front-line staff, including drivers, conductors, dispatchers, station teams, engineers, cleaners and those in our control centres. Their hard work and dedication to keeping the trains running are helping key workers save lives.’

Merseyrail reverses evening trains decision

MERSEYRAIL has abandoned its plan to axe evening services from tonight, which it announced yesterday. There have been reports of protests from health workers, who would not have been able to reach their hospitals for night shifts if no trains were running. In response, Merseyrail has announced limited evening services on the Kirkby, Southport, Chester and West Kirby lines, and trains will now continue on most routes until about 22.00. Daytime services are now running every 30 minutes on weekdays, and mostly hourly on Sundays.