Covid-19 challenge for TfL
SINCE the first person was diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK at the end of January, the effect upon London’s transport system has been profound. Two months on, the capital is unrecognisable.
Passenger numbers fell by almost 20% in the second week of March, but the following week saw a fall in passengers by 80% in central London and 60% in the suburbs compared to the same period in 2019.
With many staff not being available, non-interchange stations were closed so that staff could be reallocated to busier hubs. As staff numbers fell further, issues relating to the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 2009 arose. This regulates minimum staffing levels as a result of the 1987 King’s Cross fire.
By the end of the month, and with much of the population now isolating, passenger numbers had fallen by 92%. Transport for London was using social media to appeal to passengers to stay at home and stop using services altogether – the intention was that trains and buses should only be used by NHS staff or those of other critical services.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced that TfL had already introduced the use of enhanced anti-viral fluid on Underground rolling stock the previous week. The fluid, also used in hospital environments, would be used more regularly at stations – particularly at key interchanges – throughout the day instead of nightly. This was in an effort to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
By the end of March a new cleaning agent was also introduced, with rolling stock being deep cleaned using specialist hygiene back-packs that would spray the new disinfectant across the system.