The Day Deadly Virus Reduced Britain To One Big Ghost Town

The devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis is laid bare in these haunting images of ghost town Britain.

- David Pilditch

City centres lay deserted yesterday as millions ditched the commute at the start of the working week to stay at home instead.

It came as the nation moved on to a war footing as cases of the deadly virus continued to surge.

Mainline stations looked abandoned after the traditional morning rush hour was replaced by the arrival of near-empty trains.

In London, Euston and Waterloo stations were among those that saw a dramatic fall in passengers.

Some Underground train carriages, where workers are normally packed in like sardines, were completely empty.

Many employees who headed to work wore masks and took other protective measures.

City centres in Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Cambridge were all eerily quiet, while major airports including Heathrow looked deserted.

Major roads and motorways usually clogged up with traffic were also empty.

Landmarks

The chilling scenes came as travel and workplace restrictions were put in place.

Popular landmarks and tourist attractions in London and elsewhere were also abandoned as visitors stayed away from large gatherings.

Businesses were also operating with a skeleton staff.

Experts estimate nearly a third of the UK’s 32 million workforces has been affected, with working from home plans impacting up to 12 million families across the UK.

One commuter, Becky McElroy, 24, traveled from her home in Dartford, Kent, to London Bridge station.