Rail services in Sheffield being scaled back due to coronavirus - what you need to know

Rail services will be gradually reduced from next week due to the coronavirus crisis.
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The Department for Transport (DfT) said it had agreed with rail operators across the country to scale back timetables from Monday as people change their travel habits to help stop COVID-19 spreading.

Core services will continue to run to help people attend medical appointments and allow emergency services and NHS staff get to work, with freight services also continuing to operate.

Rail services to and from Sheffield are among those being scaled back due to coronavirusRail services to and from Sheffield are among those being scaled back due to coronavirus
Rail services to and from Sheffield are among those being scaled back due to coronavirus
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Transport chiefs said demand for rail travel on some routes had already declined by more than two thirds on some routes since the Government advised people against unnecessary travel.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps suggested to MPs on Tuesday that rail companies, as well as bus firms and airlines, could be temporarily nationalised to help them through the coronavirus outbreak.

To minimise disruption, services will be progressively cut back over the coming days, the DfT said.

Mr Shapps said the action was being taken to ‘protect the public’ while still ‘ensuring keyworker heroes can get to their jobs to keep this nation running’.

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Passengers are advised to check the National Rail Enquiries website before they travel.

Northern and TransPennine Express are among several operators which have announced they are suspending or cancelling some services due to staff illness or to protect customers and employees.

Northern said today, Friday, March 20, that there would be a number of cancellations due to COVID-19, with its Sheffield to Gainsborough Central, Sheffield to Doncaster and Leeds to Sheffield fast services all affected.