COVID round-up
Government moderates its message on public transport travel in England; Banksy artwork removed from LU train.
PASSENGERS in England have finally been given permission to return to train travel for any means.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on July 17 that the messaging regarding who could travel and why was changing, and that public transport was not just for key workers.
Ever since lockdown, the Government message has been that only key workers with no alternative other than to use public transport should travel by train. As passenger numbers dropped by as much as 95%, this message came in for increasing criticism, with concerns that passenger numbers would not return to pre-COVID-19 levels due to a lack of confidence regarding safety.
In his speech, Johnson said: “In England, from today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available.”
He added that from August 1, Government will update its advice on going to work: “Instead of Government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.
“That could mean, of course, continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.”
Face coverings remain mandatory when travelling, apart from for those with exemptions.
“As the economy reopens and people start thinking about travelling again, it is important to be clear that you can now use public transport even if you have an alternative,” said Transport Focus Chief Executive Anthony Smith.
“However, big hurdles remain before there is a mass return to office working, as our research shows. People have got used to working from home, still have concerns about safety, and the price might still put them off.”
Robert Nisbet, Director of Nations and Regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The railway is vital to economic recovery and train companies will play their part by helping people travel safely. As part of our safer travel pledge, we are adding more trains, improving journey information and boosting cleaning, while asking passengers to travel at quieter times and wear a face covering.”
Transport for London Transport Commissioner Andy Byford confirmed: “We are now running near-normal levels of services, but the need to maintain social distancing wherever possible means that we do ask customers to travel outside the busier times. We are providing the information customers need on when the quieter times are for their journeys.
“We are working to make travelling more comfortable for everyone, by spreading demand outside the old rush hour and distributing it more evenly across the day. We continue to work with businesses to make that happen, and to support their recovery and that of London’s shops, attractions, pubs and restaurants.”
RMT Senior General Assistant Secretary Mick Lynch said: “We are seeking urgent talks with transport ministers to stress it is vital for the protection of jobs, the economy and our climate that any increase in public transport use must be both safe, sustainable and underpinned by a coherent national plan.
“That plan must include a new deal for public transport that massively expands funding and capacity to also allow for cheaper fares and more flexible travel plans, and which puts passenger
and workers’ safety before privatisation and profiteering.”
ASLEF also criticised the announcement, claiming it was too much, too soon. General Secretary Mick Whelan said: “Mr Johnson must be careful not to send out more mixed messages that compromise the safety of key workers travelling, or operating, all modes of transport.
“We cannot deliver safely anywhere like the peaks of the past and we are not convinced that this is the right time to relax procedures designed to keep passengers, and staff, safe from COVID-19 on public transport in Britain.
“As train drivers we believe in public transport - we love trains! - and we want people to use trains and buses. But we want passengers to be able to travel safely.”
In Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said on July 12: “We know that even with public transport service levels increasing and physical distancing being relaxed to one metre for some services, capacity is still significantly restricted compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. This means people are being asked to continue to work from home if they can, and walk, wheel and cycle where possible.”
The Scottish Government has relaxed a ban on people travelling a maximum of five miles from their home.
In Wales, the message remains to travel only if necessary, with the Welsh Government reviewing every 21 days.
Figures released by the Department for Transport on July 22, and covering up to July 20, revealed that rail usage was at 18% of the usual average, 23% for the Tube, 85% for car usage, and 146% for cycling.
In a Lords Written Reply to Lord Greaves on July 14, Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our Safer Transport guidance makes clear that people should consider all other forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, before using public transport.”
She claimed that the ruling regarding mandatory face coverings meant the Government now expects people to have more confidence to travel where they have no alternative but to use public transport.
“Government will continually monitor and review the evidence regarding public transport and provide updates when it is safe to do so,” she added.