Rail disruption as services are cut back thanks to pingdemic

RAIL passengers faced disruption today as “emergency” timetables were introduced after the “pingdemic” forced several train firms to scale back services.

Thameslink, Southern Railway, Great Western Railway and London North Western were among train companies having to change timetables due to staff having to self-isolate after having come into contact with a Covid carrier.

Staffing on the Tube was “very tight” but as of early this morning no disruption was reported due to workers having to self-isolate.

RMT rail union general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The union has warned that existing staff shortages on rail and Tube would leave services on a knife edge in and around London as more of our members are asked to isolate and that is exactly what has happened this morning with whole lines now on an emergency timetable.”

Senior ministers were set to meet today to discuss expanding the scheme to allow more key workers to avoid having to self-isolate if “pinged” to ensure critical services are kept running.

Union bosses have raised concerns about workers who have been “pinged” going to work and potentially putting at risk other staff and passengers.

Children’s minister Vicky Ford stressed companies would have to have health and safety measures in place.

She also told Sky News: “It’s important that we minimise the disruption to the economy and that’s why we’ve looked at certain really, really crucial sectors and are saying that in those circumstances those double-vaccinated adults if they have not had the positive test and don’t have any symptoms then they can continue to work.” A Rail Delivery Group spokeswoman said: “We hope the further roll-out of daily contact testing helps to reduce the need for trains to be cancelled due to our employees being asked to self-isolate.”

Meanwhile, Ms Ford repeatedly refused to rule out that students could be required to be double-vaccinated in order to attend university lectures in person and live in halls of residence.

When initially asked on Sky News about the plan happening, Ms Ford said “no” and stressed the need to prioritise education.

Later she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can’t comment on things that haven’t been announced.”

The Government had faced being defeated on its vaccine passport plans with the expectation that Labour, the Liberal Democrats and dozens of Conservative MPs would oppose them.

However, this morning Sir Keir Starmer signalled that Labour may support the use of “vaccine passports” for access to major sporting events, though not for everyday public services.

Schools closing for the summer break is likely to be one reasons why cases are falling, a leading expert said, with confirmed infections in London down to 3,926 announced yesterday, compared to 7,086 on July 20.

Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick, said he is “cautiously optimistic” about dropping cases.