This week we’re congratulating Captain (now Colonel) Tom Moore on his astonishing achievement of hitting the £30 million mark in his NHS fundraiser on his 100th birthday!
The rail industry has paid tribute to Captain Tom – read on to find out how. Here’s this week’s roundup:
GB Railfreight thanks Captain Tom with locomotive naming
GB Railfreight has thanked Captain Tom Moore for his fundraising efforts for the NHS with a birthday surprise – a freight locomotive named in his honour.
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A 129-tonne, Class 66 freight locomotive, will be named ‘Captain Tom Moore’, with the added inscription ‘A true British inspiration’. The name plates were produced by Procast, one of which has been kindly donated by Neil Booth, Director of Railwayana Auctions UK Ltd, as a thank you for Captain Moore’s amazing efforts.
The name plate which will now adorn the locomotive, was unveiled by GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith, with Captain Moore watching the ceremony from home. Captain Moore won the hearts and minds of the nation, raising over £29,000,000 for the NHS. See more pictures here.
GWR train named to honour NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore
Captain Tom Moore has also had a Great Western Railway (GWR) Intercity train named in his honour.
Five-car 800025 will be named Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday on Thursday 30 April. The naming follows requests from GWR staff and the general public. Read the full story here.
Trespassing warning after 57 incidents recorded in Yorkshire during lockdown
Network Rail is warning people about the dangers of trespassing on the railway, as 57 incidents have been recorded in Yorkshire alone since the Government announced lockdown measures.
Trespassers have been spotted on lines across the region, including in Sheffield, Leeds, Doncaster, Rotherham and Wakefield. Network Rail have released some of the cases:
- A man jumped over a fence onto the railway with his daughter to collect firewood.
- Children dangling items from a bridge over the tracks.
- Four quad bikes on the railway.
- Two teenagers trespassing under a bridge, potentially putting something on the tracks.
- Three youths sat on the embankment above a tunnel with their legs dangling over the edge.
- A man on the railway looking for his dog.
- Youths on the railway under a bridge, with one being seen running across the tracks by a train driver.
Coronavirus: Transport for London furloughs 7,000 workers
Transport for London (TfL) have put 7,000 of its staff on furlough amid “massive financial challenges” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
TfL’s income has been badly affected during the pandemic, and about 7,000 employees will be put on the government’s furlough scheme.
London’s transport commissioner Mike Brown said fares, which are TfL’s main revenue, had plunged by 90%.
Design GWR train livery to support NHS & key workers
Great Western Railway (GWR) is asking members of the public to design their own special train livery showing support for the NHS and other key workers.
NHS staff and key workers are working incredibly hard to help keep people safe during the COVID-19 crisis. GWR is giving everyone of all ages the chance to show their support and design a special livery, with the winning designs to be put on to one of their Intercity Express Trains.
A collection of the best designs will be chosen to create the new livery and provide a unique tribute. Find out how you can get involved here!
Latest service updates
Latest National Rail service updates
Check all services for reduced timetables.
Gatwick Express – Gatwick Express services suspended until further notice
Grand Central – Grand Central service suspended until further notice
Hull Trains – Hull Trains service temporarily suspended until further notice
Transport For London Status
Our services are only for essential journeys. Our message to everyone else is stay at home, don’t travel, save lives.
The number of people using Tube and rail services has fallen dramatically by around 95% and the number of people using buses by around 85%. This is important to stop the spread of coronavirus.
It is vital that everyone continues not to travel unless your journey is essential and does not return to the transport network.
Our staff are working hard to support the NHS and protect all Londoners. Please help them and continue to follow the instructions not to travel for as long as it takes to defeat coronavirus.
Stay at home. Don’t travel. Save lives.
London Underground Status
Heathrow
From Saturday 9 May, Piccadilly and TfL Rail stations at Heathrow Terminal 4 will close temporarily and all services will only run to Heathrow Terminal 1, 2, 3 and 5 stations. This is because all flights will operate from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 5 only, due to a significant drop in demand. Visit Heathrow’s website or contact your airline to ensure you travel to the correct terminal.
Bakerloo line
On Saturday 2 May, there will be no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. This is due to Network Rail track work. Rail replacement buses will run.
On Sunday 3 May, there will be no service between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. This is due to Network Rail track work. Rail replacement buses will run.
London Overground Status
Network Rail is carrying out works which will affect the following London Overground services:
On Saturday 2 May, there will be no service between Watford Junction and Willesden Junction. Rail replacement buses will run between Watford Junction and Harrow & Wealdstone, and between Harrow & Wealdstone and Stonebridge Park/Paddington.
On Sunday 3 May, there will be no service between Watford Junction and Euston. Use alternative Tube or local bus routes. Rail replacement buses will run between Watford Junction and Harrow & Wealdstone, and between Harrow & Wealdstone and Queen’s Park.
From Monday 4 until Thursday 7 May, there will be no service between Hackney Downs and Enfield Town/Chesunt (via Seven Sisters) after 22:45 each night. Use alternative Tube or local bus routes. Rail replacement buses will run.
From Tuesday 5 until Thursday 7 May, there will be no southbound service between Sydenham and West Croydon after 23:30 each night. Use local buses.
TfL Rail Status
No current updates.
Buses and roads
We are running a reduced service on all bus routes. Due to the following works, some buses may be diverted or stop short of their normal destination. Make sure you check before you travel.
Shoreditch – Until 30 September 2020, Shoreditch High Street will have a contra-flow reducing the width of the carriageway in both directions between Holywell Lane and New Yards Inn. This is due to Shoreditch Village development works.
London Bridge – Until 31 October 2020, London Bridge is closed to general traffic (except buses, licensed taxis, motorcyclists and cyclists). Diversions are in place and there are changes to the junction either side of the bridge. Please take extra care when driving while all users, including pedestrians, get used to the new layout.
Santander Cycles
The following docking stations will be out of service this weekend:
- Queen’s Gate, Kensington Gardens
- London Zoo, The Regent’s Park
- Albert Gate, Hyde Park
- Hyde Park Corner, Hyde Park
- Triangle Car Park, Hyde Park
- Serpentine Car Park, Hyde Park
- Palace Gate, Kensington Gardens
- Black Lion Gate, Kensington Gardens
- London Zoo Car Park, The Regent’s Park
- The Tennis Courts, The Regent’s Park
- Hoxton Station, Hoxton
- Kensington Gore, Kensington
- Nesham Street, Wapping
- Eaton Square, Belgravia
- Paddington Green Police Station, Paddington
- Orsett Terrace, Bayswater
West Midlands Metro
In response to current demand, from Monday April 27th, we will provide the following service:
From Monday to Saturday, trams will operate every 15 minutes from the start to the end of service.
- The first trams travelling the full route will leave Wolverhampton St George’s at 05:15 and Library at 05:10
- The last trams travelling the full route will leave Wolverhampton St George’s at 23:30 and Library at 23:40
On Sundays, trams will continue to operate every 15 minutes from the start to the end of service.
- The first trams travelling the full route will leave Wolverhampton St George’s at 07:55 and Library at 08:00
- The last trams travelling the full route will leave Wolverhampton St George’s at 22:55 and Library at 23:00
You can view full timetables using the links below:
Monday to Saturday Temporary Timetable Sunday Temporary Timetable
Tyne & Wear Metro
Travel only if absolutely essential.
Trains are running to a reduced frequency. A train every 24 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes on an evening. Please leave extra time for your journey.
Manchester Metrolink
Do not travel unless it is absolutely essential – stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
You must only make trips that are absolutely necessary for work, to get supplies, to care for others or for medical reasons.
If your journey is essential, drive, cycle or walk if you can. Avoid public transport and only use it if you have no other option.
If you have to make an essential journey on public transport, check timetables before you travel. Wash your hands before and after your journey, cough or sneeze into a tissue and use contactless payments if possible.
NHS staff and social care workers can travel for free on Metrolink when they are unable to drive, cycle or walk to work.
Nottingham Express Transit
The number of people travelling has reduced as people follow government advice and avoid non-essential use of public transport. We recognise however that some people still need to travel and you need certainty from us on what services we can provide. As of Tuesday 24 March 2020, a Sunday timetable will operate throughout the week:
6AM – 7AM: every 15 minutes
7AM – 7PM: every 10 minutes
7PM – 11PM: every 15 minutes
Merseyrail
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are now operating a reduced timetable. Trains will now operate a 30-minute service on all lines between 07:00 -19:00 Monday to Saturday, with a limited additional service from 19:00 to 22:00 on some lines. Trains will operate between 08:00 – 20:00 on Sundays. Please remember our services are for key workers and essential journeys only. Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.
Blackpool Transport
Tram services are currently suspended until further notice with service 1 and other bus routes alternatives to the tramway.
Sheffield Super Tram
From Wednesday 01 April 2020
Monday – Friday summary of service:
• Yellow Route – up to every 30 mins between 06:00 and 09:00, then an hourly service between 09:00 and 22:00
• Blue Route – up to every 30 mins between 06:00 and 09:00, then an hourly service between 09:00 and 22:00
• Purple Route – hourly service between 06:00 and 22:00
• Tram Train – hourly service between 06:30 and 18:30
Saturday summary of service:
• Yellow Route – hourly service between 06:00 and 22:00
• Blue Route – hourly service between 06:00 and 22:00
• Purple Route – hourly service between 06:00 and 22:00
• Tram Train – hourly service between 06:30 and 18:30
Sunday summary of service:
• Yellow Route – hourly service between 08:00 and 22:00
• Blue Route – hourly service between 08:00 and 22:00
• Purple Route – hourly service between 08:00 and 22:00
• Tram Train – hourly service between 08:30 and 18:30
Edinburgh Trams
The first tram and last tram will run at their usual time, but customers should expect trams to operate every 15 minutes during the day with this being kept under constant review.
Glasgow Subway
The Subway is running as normal.
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