Rail’s virus war
Passenger numbers in freefall as UK battles COVID-19
THE Government is in talks with rail leaders over putting emergency measures in place to deal with falling passenger numbers, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Industry sources say the number of people travelling on some routes has already fallen by more than one third. Overall, the figure was put at 18% as of March 15, but that was expected to rise. The latest passenger figures are difficult to verify because many tickets are not purchased digitally, so it takes time for the correct numbers to be recorded.
With fewer people travelling to offices, and more encouraged to work from home, several train operators believe they will be unable to meet their franchise obligations.
Options being discussed with the Department for Transport are thought to include permission to reduce the number of services on a temporary basis and flexibility over franchise payments.
The number of trains which operate, the price of tickets, the amount companies pay Network Rail for track access, and the premiums some operators pay to run services are all contained within franchise contracts.
Veteran rail executive Sir Michael Holden said: “I think the absolute priority right now should be to keep the trains running. Two
Direct Awards expire in less than a fortnight [Southeastern and
Great Western Railway] with no replacement yet announced, and a number of other train operating companies are fast running out of cash. All will follow over time, the longer this crisis goes on.”
A DfT spokesman said: “We recognise how difficult the current situation is for the transport sector, and we are engaging with the sector’s leadership to support workers, businesses and passengers.”
Steve White, chief operating officer of Govia Thameslink
Railway (the biggest passenger franchise), warned: “The reality is that we are seeing fewer people travelling already. I got a seat home on the District Line. That never happens! We must expect to see our workforce significantly affected by this virus. I think the world will change very quickly in a matter of days.
“It won’t happen in a controlled way. We will have pockets in different locations. The rate of change in the workforce will not necessarily match the change in ridership and inclination to travel. We need to watch this daily and adapt the industry policy to mitigate it as best we can.”
Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines told the Accelerate Rail conference in London on March 10: “We have to act as one. We have to act closely and collaboratively. Our crisis management response must be well co-ordinated, so we don’t confuse either our colleagues or our customers.
“And we work in step with the Government. Trying to preempt their decisions would be profoundly unhelpful. I would urge caution to anyone who thinks they know better than the Government’s advisors under these circumstances.”
White echoed Haines’ plea: “Between the operators and
Network Rail we are working on a single integrated plan. Between the train operators there is co-operation to share information and give a standard proposition to our passengers.
“Within GTR we have set up a crisis management group. We have our own chief medical officer as an in-house capability. We are using that to share the advice of Public Health England with our employees. But it will execute the industry’s plan rather than create our own bespoke one.”
Tom Joyner, managing director of CrossCountry, added: “I have seen a different approach to leadership in the industry over the last year. There is far more coming together, in a way that I haven’t seen before.