Rail and bus services in Dorset will be gradually reduced from next week as demand drops away during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it had agreed with rail firms across the country – including Weymouth-Waterloo line operator South Western Railway and Weymouth-Bristol operator Great Western Railway – to scale back timetables from Monday as people change their travel habits to help stop Covid-19 spreading.

Also from next week, local bus operator First Wessex will be operating a Saturday service.

The coronavirus pandemic's impact on the public's travel patterns has seen demand for rail travel decline by up to 69 per cent on some routes, the DfT said.

The joint move from the Government and rail industry will also enable freight services to continue.

It follows speculation in the industry that a number of train operators are on the verge of being brought under Government control due to plummeting passenger numbers.

Mark Hopwood, South Western Railway's Managing Director, said: "With the Government advising people only to travel if it’s essential, and with some of our team needing to follow advice and self-isolate, running fewer trains means we can offer a more reliable timetable that still gets key workers, such as doctors and nurses, to and from work.

"The outbreak has put the country in a unique place, but it’s vital our industry helps its day-to-day running. Our colleagues are working hard to ensure services are running so passengers who can’t stay at home get where they need to be when they need to be there.

"The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority, and like the rest of the country, we’re doing our bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus and continue to follow the latest Government advice."

A reduced service will run on the Weymouth-Waterloo line – an hourly shuttle service will run between Weymouth and Bournemouth and hourly fast trains will run between Bournemouth and London.

Stopping trains will run Bournemouth and Southampton Central and Bournemouth every hour, in both directions. The Poole-Waterloo stopping service will not run. For the latest information visit www.southwesternrailway.com/coronavirus

On the Bristol line, which goes via Dorchester West and Yeovil, Great Western Railway is also reducing services to reflect national advice against non-essential travel, while maintaining services critical to keeping key workers moving.

The firm says a two hourly service will operate between Weymouth and Westbury. Change at Westbury for services to Bristol. Visit gwr.com

Bus operator First says it is seeing seeing a big reduction in demand for services and it is moving to a reduced timetable from Monday. For Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and Bridport area services, a Saturday timetable will come into operation. For more information visit firstgroup.com/wessex-dorset-south-somerset

*Bus operators are asking for a £1 billion pledge from Government to prevent tens of thousands of jobs having to go due to coronavirus.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) is pushing for the money to help bus companies retain staff as passenger numbers drop due to Covid-19.

They believe revenues outside of the capital will fall by £50 million a week and passengers are already down by 50%.

This drop-off could rise to 75%, they say, following the decision to close schools and the request for those aged over 70 to stay at home.

The industry is asking for the Government to support up to 80% of staff costs and guarantee sources of income for companies.

They say if this happens the 100,000 drivers and 120,000 people in the supply chain can keep transporting key workers such as NHS staff and supermarket workers to their jobs.