Coronavirus: 40 Tube stations across the network to close
19 March 2020, 07:04
Transport for London (TfL) has announced up to 40 Tube stations would be closed on Thursday and a reduced service would run on the rails from Friday.
Transport bosses said the plans would help critical workers make essential journeys but due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, up to 40 stations which do not interchange with other lines will be closed on the Tube network.
Buses in the capital will be reduced and people are being urged "not to use public transport for anything other than essential journeys" and the Waterloo and City line and Night Tube services will not run from Friday.
A TfL spokesperson said London buses will operate fewer services, but the "night bus network will continue to provide critical workers with a reliable night option on Friday and Saturday nights and throughout the week."
Read more: Coronavirus - Who should self-isolate and for how long?
From Monday 23 March, TfL will gradually reduce the frequency of other services across the TfL network to provide a service for critical workers to get to where they need to – ensuring that remaining services are not overcrowded.
TfL is aiming to run Tube trains every 4 minutes in Zone 1, with the possibility that this will reduce further.
Similarly, from next week until further notice, London Overground, TfL Rail, the DLR and London Trams will run fewer services.
So far, 104 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK - 35 of whom lived in London.
And it's understood ministers are considering much stricter measures to control the spread of Covid-19 in the capital - and could close most shops by the weekend.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned Londoners they should not be travelling unless they "really, really have to", but insisted the network must remain open to aid frontline health workers.
Meanwhile, the number of troops in a heightened state of readiness will be doubled to 20,000 while Reserves were to be placed on standby to support public services in a new "Covid support force".
Read more: Coronavirus symptoms - What are they and what is the risk of Covid-19 in the UK?
Stations which could be affected include:
- Bakerloo line: Lambeth North, Regents Park, Warwick Avenue, Kilburn Park, Charing Cross
- Central line: Holland Park, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Chancery Lane, Redbridge
- Circle line: Bayswater, Great Portland Street, Barbican
- District line: Bow Road, Stepney Green, Mansion House, Temple, St James's Park, Gloucester Road
- Jubilee line: Swiss Cottage, St John's Wood, Bermondsey, Southwark
- Northern line: Tuffnell Park, Chalk Farm, Mornington Crescent, Goodge Street, Borough, Clapham South, Tooting Bec, South Wimbledon, Hampstead
- Piccadilly line: Caledonian Road, Arsenal, Covent Garden, Hyde Park Corner, Bounds Green, Manor House
- Victoria line: Pimlico, Blackhorse Road
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