Coronavirus: Major rail company calls on former signallers to ‘come back and help’

A major rail company is calling on former signallers to ‘come back and help’ in a bid to keep Eastbourne trains running during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Network Rail southern region operations teams issued the message today (Wednesday) after recently losing staff to self-isolation and sickness at a time when key workers need to use the railway and ‘vital’ food and medical supplies need to be transported.

A Network Rail spokesperson said the company is ‘working hard to keep signalboxes and control centres open 24/7’.

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Network Rail’s managing director for the southern region John Halsall said, “This region carries half of all passengers in the country and Channel Tunnel rail freight and the pressure is on us to keep that going more than ever before.

Network Rail appeal for former signallers to returnNetwork Rail appeal for former signallers to return
Network Rail appeal for former signallers to return

“I’m appealing for signallers who’ve retired, left the railway, or moved on to other jobs in Network Rail that they can take a break from, to come back and help us keep the south moving.

“Under normal circumstances we have enough signallers to keep trains running whatever happens, from flu to winter colds season, but these are not normal circumstances and without signallers to route trains there will be no way we can keep the whole network open.

“So if you can help us, get in touch.”

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an illness which affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms are a high temperature and continuous cough.

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• The Government is now telling people to stay at home unless: shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, any medical need or to help a vulnerable person, and travelling to and from work - ONLY when absolutely necessary