London Tubes and trains could start running ‘scaled down’ Saturday and Sunday services on weekdays from as early as this week amid coronavirus lockdown, warns Sadiq Khan – while thousands of commuters work from home
- Mayor of London says that a weekend timetable could be used during the week
- This would hit the Underground, DLR, Overground and TfL Rail if brought in
- Sadiq Khan called for greater clarity from government for hospitality venues
- Also wants hotels subsidised in order to take in the country’s homeless
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
London Tubes and trains may run a ‘scaled down’ service on weekdays from as early as this week, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan warned today.
The Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway Service could see journeys reduced as thousands of commuters work from home.
The Mayor of London told Good Morning Britain that scaling down could begin as soon as this week and will also affect TfL Rail.
The plans would see journeys on weekdays cut down to the numbers customers are used to having at the weekend.
Mr Khan told the show: ‘What we may do over the course of next few days and weeks is go down to a Saturday Sunday service and maybe scale that down over the course of the next few days and weeks.’
London Tubes and trains may run a ‘scaled down’ service on weekdays from as early as this week, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan (right) warned today
A sparsely-filled carriage on an Underground train in west London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatre
A sparsely-filled carriage on a commuter train between Maidenhead and London’s Paddington Station the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres
He also revealed that despite requesting to attend the Government’s Cobra meetings over the last few weeks to help the capital cope with the Covid-19 crisis, he was only finally invited yesterday.
‘I’ve been asking to attend the Cobra meetings for weeks,’ he said. ‘For the first time yesterday morning we got call from downing street inviting us to Cobra.
‘We were told London is a few weeks ahead of rest of the country and way this virus is spreading is faster than government and ministers thought.’
Other plans that could be rolled out to help London cope with the coronavirus pandemic include subsidising hotels to take in the homeless, he added.
‘I raised this point yesterday in reference to rough sleepers,’ he said. ‘There’s no reason at all bearing in mind record vacancies hotels and motels have that they shouldn’t be used to help homeless.’
He demanded more clarity from the Government on whether pubs should shut or remain open.
The Government is currently advising the public to stay away from bars, pubs and restaurants.
But Mr Khan said that because the Prime Minister has not ordered the businesses to shut they are not able to claim lost earnings on insurance.
‘One of the biggest concerns is the lack of clarity,’ Mr Khan said. ‘We’ve had now bold action to add people’s health we need bold action to help people’s livelihoods.
‘What I’m being told is because it’s not a ban they cant claim for insurance. Many of these businesses rely on cash flow to pay wages – even a week’s closure means they can’t pay wages.’
He added: ‘My concern about the lack of support for businesses is that people may choose to work to keep food on table rather than self-isolate.’