Social distancing revisions herald full timetable return
PASSENGERS must maintain social distancing on trains of at least a metre, Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps has confirmed.
Shapps was speaking in front of the Transport Select Committee on June 24, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to reduce social distancing from two metres to one metre where two metres is deemed to be unviable.
Following Johnson’s announcement, it was confirmed that parts of the country will have a full timetable restored on July 6 as lockdown restrictions are eased.
The Rail Delivery Group said this means that the railway will be assisting with the country’s economic recovery, although in a joint statement released on June 22, three unions condemned the move and said they could not support it.
ASLEF, RMT and TSSA warned: “The Government’s own advisors have said that reducing social distancing to one metre will significantly increase the chance of infection by up to 30 times, while the chances of COVID-19 spreading are increased in confined spaces such as carriages and stations.
“Policing two-metre social distancing on public transport is already challenging. Reducing it to one metre will make it almost impossible.”
A Department for Transport spokesman told RAIL that the uplift in services would vary across the country for a number of reasons, including staff illnesses. He confirmed that while the message regarding face coverings will remain the same, there could be small changes to other messaging. Guidance would be issued ahead of the timetable increase.
However, Government has reiterated that where possible, public transport should be avoided, and that people should continue working at home if they could.
“Reduced social distancing coupled with extra trains running from July 6 means space for more people to travel by train, so rail will be able to play an even bigger part in supporting Britain’s recovery in the weeks ahead,” said RDG Chief Strategy Officer Andy Bagnall.
“As well as anti-viral cleaning on trains and in stations, we are running longer trains where possible. In return, we ask that people avoid travelling at the busiest times of day if they can and bring a face covering to wear throughout their journey.”
Data released by Government shows that up to June 22, rail usage was at 10% of an equivalent day’s average figure, while London Underground was 16%, car usage was 72% and cycling was 182%.