Tram driver slams ‘selfish’ passengers
AMETROLINK driver has blasted ‘hundreds of passengers a day’ who are boarding trams for unnecessary travel - often without buying tickets.
The driver, who asked to remain anonymous, is fuming that ‘selfish’ people in Greater Manchester are risking their wellbeing - and the health of commuting key workers - by flouting Government guidance on all but essential use of public transport.
He said this week in particular, the rule-breakers have been out in force, jumping on trams for a couple of stops or embarking on unnecessary shopping jaunts.
He said people are also fare-dodging.
He added: “The number of people making obviously unnecessary journeys is staggering - it’s hundreds a day. The numbers outside rush hour this week have been like a typical normal day. It’s got much worse than it was at the beginning.
“And they won’t be reflected in Metrolink’s official figures because most people aren’t buying tickets.
“These folks have no regard at all for the people who have to travel.”
Asked how he knows for sure these passengers are not visiting vulnerable people with essentials or heading to work, he added: “I can tell by their demeanour. They aren’t going to see family, they jump from one stop to another and come back again. Many are just loitering around.
“It’s not the kids - they are abiding by it. It’s grown-ups who are doing it. I think they just want to be outdoors.
“It’s just a complete lack of social responsibility. I’ve got loads of examples. This week someone got on and they had bought a telly in the city centre they took home.
“Lots of people are coming back on the tram with a load of shopping and then getting off at stops near their homes where there are supermarkets within walking distance. That’s not necessary travel.”
He added: “It doesn’t affect me, I’m safe in my cab. It’s the NHS staff I’m concerned about - many of them are going to Wythenshawe Hospital.”
He added: “The ‘stay at home’ message has been received by many people but there are a large number too stupid or selfish to comply.
“Wednesday was like a normal day. After rush hour people were just getting on and off the trams for free because there no ticket checks.
“Normally abusing the system doesn’t bother me, but this infuriates me.
“It’s the risk they are posing to other people - particularly the NHS staff. The more people using the trams unnecessarily, the greater the risk.
“It also means lockdown will last longer. People either aren’t understanding or ignoring the message about not using public transport unless essential.”
He added: “At least people in their own cars are only in contact with the people in that car. On public transport it’s ‘x’ number of people. It’s very selfish.”
Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “We have been very clear that people should not travel on the Metrolink or any form of public transport unless it is absolutely essential, and this guidance is being followed with patronage across the tram network reduced by 95pc.
“However, it appears there are a small minority of people making unnecessary journeys on Metrolink, which under the current circumstances is unacceptable.”