Light at the end of the tunnel: Rail update
Rail catering has been devastated by COVID-19 lockdowns. Roger Williams, looks at how the European industry is now re-engaging…
With an estimated €750m reduction in revenue in 2020 due to the pandemic, the impact on rail catering has been significant but one by one, countries are now emerging from lockdown, creating a palpable sense of relief in the rail industry. As the whistle blows for more train services to restart, anticipation is rising - but it looks like being a slow journey.
Customer numbers remain understandably low, with governments advising against unnecessary travel and media comments about the risks on public transport. Reduced capacity, restricted timetables, mandatory reservations and socially distanced seat allocations are also suppressing passenger volumes.
But train operators have taken significant steps to protect their workforce and customers, and catering logistics partners such as RG have helped procure and distribute vast quantities of face masks, hand sanitiser, cleaning chemicals, and PPE, to ensure a virus free environment.
instilling confidence
That safety message has been loud and clear from railway leaders such as Vincent Ducrot ceo of SBB and Matthew Golton md of GWR in the UK, trying to instil customer confidence.
UK industry body, the Rail Delivery Group, has also issued a “Safer Travel Pledge”, to be displayed in UK railway stations to give additional assurance to returning customers.
This includes pledges for longer trains to help with social distancing, improved signage, powerful antiviral fog cleaning of train carriages and vending machines for face masks and sanistiser. In return, customers should avoid peak hours and wear a face mask.
Technology is also playing a part with a new Messenger app design alerting people to avoid busy trains.
Green for go
With protection in place and public and staff gradually getting used to new processes, there are some green shoots appearing.
Based on the latest feedback from member companies of IRCG (International Rail Catering
Group) about 50% of European train catering is back in operation, although in the UK trains are only operating at about 20% capacity due to the 2 metre rule. a change to 1 metre would help reach about 45% capacity.
Here’s a snap shot of progress on the railways so far …
UK: LnER restarted onboard services July 6 and avanti is retaining onboard shops and may serve First Class food from august (tbc). GWR is re-introducing limited retail onboard, and RG has started producing Travel Safe Kits for SSP Retail on stations, including face masks and sanitiser, etc.
FINLAND: VR reintroduced restaurant cars on long distance journeys in June although it is only operating at half capacity to enable social distancing. Station restaurants also reopened in early June.
SWITZERLAND: Elvetino resumed the majority of catering services, including restaurant cars from June. SBB's international services to France and Germany resumed in May and to Italy at the end of June. night train services resumed June 25 and full international service is expected by September 7.
CZECH REPUBLIC: JLV is back onboard both domestic and international services with the bistro cars on internal routes since June. Slovakian, German and austrian services resumed through June as well as CD Railjet to Berlin and night trains to Zurich. Services to Poland and hungary were added in early July.
TURKEY: high speed services have been resumed in Turkey, but no catering is being provided as yet.
Hungary: MaV-STaRT has resumed international services with a new dining brand in refurbished wagons.
GERMANY: DB’s internal intercity services operated throughout the lockdown period but with restricted catering.
FRANCE: TGV Lyria’s onboard catering was restored early in July on routes to
Switzerland but is operating on a limited menu for now. While Thalys (operating Paris to Brussels) increased cleaning; disinfection of surfaces several times a day and mandatory facemasks. Eurostar haslimited services to the UK and Belgium and plans to reintroduce catering on September 7. The opening of Paris EuroDisney should help boost passengers. 30 furloughed Eurostar staff in London have been volunteering to help with French lessons for schools.
AUSTRIA: oBB saw a catering resumption by Don Travel, and the return of its night train services at end of June. Services to Italy remain suspended (as of early July).
Optimism ahead
Interestingly, there have also been several recent announcements about post-Covid expansion plans for European services.
The Swedish Transport administration plans to introduce a night train service from Malmo to Brussels in 2022.
Rail Baltica, linking Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, is expected to begin operating in 2026. It is seen as having a key role in the post-CoVID economic recovery of Eastern EU.
The first nine sets of avanti West Coast's new hitachi trains have been delivered to the UK ready for fit out.
Frecciarossa in Italy is being positioned as 'Europe’s longest high-speed train ride', and Trenitalia’s high-speed service began in June - 862 miles (1387 km) from Turin (northern Italy) to Reggio de Calabria, via Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and naples.
all this shows that it’s not quite the end of the world just yet. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Let’s hope the rest of the pre-CoVID services open up very soon.
Explore Catering offers business change and development services for train companies, rail caterers, logistics providers and suppliers. Specialising in onboard service design, research, commercial tenders and marketing. Non-exec and interim roles can also be considered.
Train operators have taken significant steps to protect their workforce and customers