Call that 6ft apart? Carriages even more packed as trains cut
COMMUTERS travelling by rail yesterday claimed the coronivurus social distancing advice was a ‘shambles’ as they were packed onto fewer trains after the schedule was reduced.
ScotRail said the changes were aimed at giving cleaning staff extra time at depots as well as at ‘cleaning stations’.
The Scottish Government said the decision was taken to protect services for essential workers such as NHS employees, police and shop workers and allow freight trains to continue to operate.
It comes after the Government pleaded with employers to allow workers to stay home where possible and for the public to avoid any unnecessary travel in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
However, thousands of workers still face a morning commute packed into carriages unable to keep 6ft apart.
Images of a standing room only rush hour carriage heading into Glasgow appeared on social media yesterday, prompting a row over train use.
One angry Twitter user wrote: ‘People need to pay bills, so they have to get to work.
‘Then they take lots of trains out of service so the only ones available will be crammed. The managing of this outbreak has been an absolute shambles.’
Passenger Sam Lloyd wrote: ‘I’m sick to death of people having a go at workers travelling to work. If there is not a lockdown people will go to work or be sacked or disciplined.’
And Glasgow welfare officer Stephen Fallon wrote: ‘Reducing numbers of trains will increase risk to people.’
ScotRail said as well as protecting staff
currently working, the timetable changes were necessary due to the loss of staff through sickness and a reduction in demand as many people stay home.
Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA), said: ‘ScotRail passengers have suffered more delayed and cancelled trains than most and might feel like this is just more of the same.
‘But the truth is that Covid 19 represents a real threat to the health and safety of passengers and staff alike.
‘In many cases the confusing messages from the Scottish Government about transport workers’ entitlement to a school place for their children means that ScotRail staff will have to stay home to look after their children.
‘Of course, if their job is not vital to trains running, like the rest of us, home is the best place for them to be. However,
Abellio should not see this as one last chance to grab a quick buck by cutting staffing costs.
‘Our members sent home due to the cut in services, or to look after children, the elderly or vulnerable should suffer no loss of earnings.’
David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, said: ‘We are facing an unprecedented challenge on Scotland’s railway and the revised timetable will help to provide a critical service for the key workers across the country.
‘Our own people are absolutely committed and are working flat out on the frontline to help keep the country moving, while also keeping themselves and customers safe.
‘The railway has an important role to play during this crisis and we will work closely with the Scottish Government to do all we can as the situation develops.’
The service reduction on the railways comes a week after flights to Scotland and the UK from affected countries were grounded, with dozens of planes currently sitting on the tarmac at both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.