LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Britain's rail network will
operate half its normal service during the coronavirus crisis,
the government and rail industry body said on Friday, and
Heathrow Airport's operations will shrink as more of the country
goes into a partial shutdown.
From Monday, trains will only run on core services,
equivalent to about half the passenger trains on a normal
weekday, to reflect the drop-off in demand as more and more
Britons work from home and stop travelling.
Heathrow Airport, the country's biggest, also said on Friday
that it would partially shut down some operations after
coronavirus brought most air travel to a standstill.
Britons have been advised to stay at home as much as they
can to prevent the spread of the illness, but have not been told
they are unable to leave their homes like people in Italy, Spain
and France.
The rail reductions will be gradual, the Department for
Transport said, with the remaining services enabling key workers
to get to their jobs and to move freight, including vital goods,
around the country.
"We are taking decisive action to protect the public which
means reducing travel for the time being, whilst still ensuring
keyworker heroes can get to their jobs to keep this nation
running," Transport Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement on
Friday.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden)
