How to get people back on trains post COVID-19?

[CaptainHaddock]

Apologies if this has already been discussed but I wondered what people thought would be the best way for TOCs to persuade both leisure travellers and commuters to start using the train again as the lockdown nears its end?

In Belgium the government has decided to offer all its residents 10 free rail journeys. Link below; I wonder if such a scheme might work over here?

Belgium to give all residents 10 free train journeys to encourage domestic tourism as lockdown ends

Latest bid from ministers to boost the economy

www.independent.co.uk

The Belgian government is to hand out free railway tickets in a bid to boost the country's economy as it emerges from its coronavirus lockdown.

All residents in the EU member state will get a pass entitling them to ten free journeys of any length on the country's railways.

The free ticket, agreed by government ministers at the weekend, is part of a raft of measures like higher welfare payments and a VAT cut, meant to stimulate economic activity.

The 10 journeys will be valid between 1 July and 31 December 2020, with the aim of encouraging people to go away for the weekend and spend money in the ailing tourist sector.

 

[james60059]

From what I've read on here, forget asking Northern Rail, and I believe EMR are shirty as well

 

[Islineclear3_1]

TOCs to show respect to their passengers would be a good start

Secondly, to make their passengers feel welcome

Thirdly, to offer discounted leisure fares to encourage passengers back to the railway

 

[westv]

For those happy to carry on working from home I don't think any incentive, apart from maybe paying them to travel, will make them change their minds.

 

[JonathanH]

Thirdly, to offer discounted leisure fares to encourage passengers back to the railway

Small change - the railway needs to encourage full fare travellers back rather more than leisure travellers. No matter how much people on this forum want cheaper leisure travel, while it admittedly represents revenue, it isn't where the money is for the operators.

 

[NorthOxonian]

More part-time seasons (like those seen in Devon) might be useful for tempting occasional commuters back onto the trains.

 

[MrTurbostar170]

Does Belgium still require masks on public transport?

 

[PeterC]

For me R number below 0.5 and robust tracing in place.

 

[Bikeman78]

Does Belgium still require masks on public transport?

Yes I think so.

 

[43066]

Apologies if this has already been discussed but I wondered what people thought would be the best way for TOCs to persuade both leisure travellers and commuters to start using the train again as the lockdown nears its end?

Getting rid of the ridiculous requirement to wear masks would be a very good start!

 

[Skymonster]

• Stop acting as though customers are the problem and start treating them as part of the solution

 

[MDB1images]

It's still early days but if things continue as well as they are(infection wise)then from end of July

- Withdraw mandatory face Coverings.

--End the 'only travel if necessary' line**

-A big P.R. campaign to undo the damage that the pandemic has caused in people's trust with emphasis that we have a clean railway system

The message sent out over the pandemic(rightly or wrongly)is Rail Travel is a real risk to your health and only those who really have to travel or are not fussed about risk use the services.

I've yet to see a report that Rail travel actually caused a spike in this virus but can understand the initial way it was closed down as nothing was known about this virus.
If we carry on with mandatory masking people(particularly on long distance journeys)and the 'please only travel unless you really need to' message then I'm afraid the Car dealerships will be the only winners.

Equally the Government and TOCs need to meet and have a co-ordinated national plan, no announcements unless all are singing from the same hymn sheet-the virus wasn't TOC specific.

**I'd withdraw that as soon as Social distancing measures slacken.

 

[Huntergreed]

As I've stated in many other threads, I believe that once the tourism and leisure industries reopen and more need to use transport, we need to have a nationwide campaign to get the economy started again.

The campaign should run along the lines of 'Getting Britain Moving Again'. This would include:

• To replace a formal requirement for commercial outlets to enforce social distancing, we should emphasise the importance of 'respecting personal space' and very good hygiene (sanitiser stations in many places)
• We need to drop the 'essential only' messaging completely, as if this is in place then it's going to be difficult for the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries to turn much profit, and it would also lead to discrimination against non-car owners
• I do think the compulsory mask law must be dropped, as this is going to scare people off public transport and it's not going to do any favours for the industry in the long term (long distance travel will be very unpleasant and people will not want to do it if this law is maintained)
• Extension or discount on the railcard scheme for those who already owned a railcard, as they have essentially lost 3-4 months off of their railcard through no fault of their own. I propose that we extend it by the number of days since 23rd March that the transport network is reopened.

 

[MikeWM]

More part-time seasons (like those seen in Devon) might be useful for tempting occasional commuters back onto the trains.

I think that is going to be very necessary, as many people will not be going back to the office 5 days a week. Out of all the 'new normal' nonsense bandied around, I think this is the one thing that really will change long-term - and will obviously have a major effect on the revenue stream of the railways.

 

[Ianno87]

Small change - the railway needs to encourage full fare travellers back rather more than leisure travellers. No matter how much people on this forum want cheaper leisure travel, while it admittedly represents revenue, it isn't where the money is for the operators.

Current revenue is, to all intents and purposes zero. Some temporary offers to kick-start ridership again (especially with a little of summer left before dark, cold winter is back) would strike me as very, very prudent

 

[duncanp]

What about a railcard that anyone can buy, similar to the Network Railcard for the South East, but which covers the whole UK?

Also a little bit of flexibility over advance tickets would be customer friendly, such as being able to take the service immediately before and after the one you booked on, or being able to upgrade to a flexible ticket for a fixed fee in a similar manner to weekend first.

 

[route101]

Non essential message dropped. Has to be when hotels etc open up.

£10 travel anywhere tickets , eg in Scotland

 

[yorksrob]

What about a railcard that anyone can buy, similar to the Network Railcard for the South East, but which covers the whole UK?

Also a little bit of flexibility over advance tickets would be customer friendly, such as being able to take the service immediately before and after the one you booked on, or being able to upgrade to a flexible ticket for a fixed fee in a similar manner to weekend first.

It would be a good moment to bring in a National railcard !

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

£10 travel anywhere tickets , eg in Scotland

In no way would that be commercially viable.

 

[route101]

In no way would that be commercially viable.

What would you suggest?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

What would you suggest?

Anything that would be commercially viable! The points outlined by @Skymonster in post #11 and @Huntergreed in post #13 would be a great start. And I do quite like the idea of a public campaign "Getting Britain Moving Again".

 

[Bishopstone]

Nationwide ‘Network Day’ with double-headed Cromptons and mega Hoover thrash.

 

[birchesgreen]

One of the trains i was on on Saturday seemed to have a broken PA system in the carriage i was in... thus no endless messages about seeing it, saying it et cetera.

Utter bliss. I'm sure it would be popular with the public...

 

[YorksDMU]

As many have now stated end the Key Worker/Essential Journey only messaging, combined with dropping the need to social distance on trains. Wearing a face covering should be all that is needed to help those who fear going by rail may give them the virus. I’m now travelling by train, once more, and will be going from Beverley to York on Wednesday, wearing my mask. My Disabled Persons Railcard is due for renewal in late July, a discount would be very welcome since I haven’t used it since the middle of March.

 

[Class 33]

As I've stated in many other threads, I believe that once the tourism and leisure industries reopen and more need to use transport, we need to have a nationwide campaign to get the economy started again.

The campaign should run along the lines of 'Getting Britain Moving Again'. This would include:

• We need to drop the 'essential only' messaging completely, as if this is in place then it's going to be difficult for the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries to turn much profit, and it would also lead to discrimination against non-car owners
• I do think the compulsory mask law must be dropped, as this is going to scare people off public transport and it's not going to do any favours for the industry in the long term (long distance travel will be very unpleasant and people will not want to do it if this law is maintained)

Indeed. Come 4th July when the tourism and leisure industry is expected to re-open, it really will be absolutely ridiculous and appalling if certain train operators such as Northern Rail and Scotrail are STILL continuing with their unwelcoming "Essential travel only", "Our services are for key workers and essential workers ONLY" and "Please do not use our trains to go shopping or for leisure trips!" messages. In just under 2 weeks now I want to see all train operators welcoming towards ALL passengers whether they're commuting to work, going to visit family, going on a day trip, or going on a short break/holiday. Let's see what happens.....

Yes, I hope the compulsory face coverings on public transport law is dropped fairly soon. I think chances are it won't be in the next easing of lockdown on 4th July though, but surely it must be come the next easing of lockdown again on 1st August when we will then have a limited amount of this summer to enjoy. It is indeed not very comfortable or pleasant to be wearing a face covering for long periods on public transport. And I can't see many people atall booking long journeys by train for leisure purposes, if they have to wear a face covering throughout!

We are making excellent progress now in beating this awful virus. Just 15 deaths since yesterday, the lowest since mid March. This was a weekend figure of course which is always lower, and tomorrow's figures will probably be over 100 again. But I feel we are within a few weeks now, where daily Coronavirus deaths will be consistently very low. And we need to start properly getting things back to normal again and restarting the economy in full, by scrapping social distancing and the requirement of face coverings.

 

[6Gman]

Getting rid of the ridiculous requirement to wear masks would be a very good start!

But might dissuade others (but there are other threads to debate that issue).

 

[AM9]

As many have now stated end the Key Worker/Essential Journey only messaging, combined with dropping the need to social distance on trains. Wearing a face covering should be all that is needed to help those who fear going by rail may give them the virus. I’m now travelling by train, once more, and will be going from Beverley to York on Wednesday, wearing my mask. My Disabled Persons Railcard is due for renewal in late July, a discount would be very welcome since I haven’t used it since the middle of March.

My Senior card runs out early in August so if a 'full service' is running by mid July, I'll get a couple of leisure trips in. If it doesn't because the infection rate goes the other way etc., then so be it.

 

[Romsey]

Apologies if this has already been discussed but I wondered what people thought would be the best way for TOCs to persuade both leisure travellers and commuters to start using the train again as the lockdown nears its end?

In Belgium the government has decided to offer all its residents 10 free rail journeys. Link below; I wonder if such a scheme might work over here?

Belgium to give all residents 10 free train journeys to encourage domestic tourism as lockdown ends

Latest bid from ministers to boost the economy

www.independent.co.uk

The original idea first appeared a couple of weeks ago and the CEO of SNCB kicked off over the lack of consultation.
After a suitable pause and presumably some very pointed discussions, a revised scheme has been rolled out avoiding peak weekends and only valid after 0900 on weekdays -

Belgian Railways revises plans for government rail pass scheme

Belgian National Railways is renegotiating the implementation of a proposed government rail pass scheme.

www.railjournal.com

 

[yorkie]

Small change - the railway needs to encourage full fare travellers back

How do you define a "full fare"?#

Do you mean a permanent fare, at the full adult rate, within the "Anytime" category?

It's still early days but if things continue as well as they are(infection wise)then from end of July

- Withdraw mandatory face Coverings.

I agree this needs to happen before too long, but I suspect it will be another month before it does.

--End the 'only travel if necessary' line**

Strongly agreed, though the actual Government guidelines as currently worded are not too bad; it's the message sent by the likes of Northern (and others) that is absolutely appalling.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Allow passengers to use existing tickets from dates after the 13th of March even if they must stick to the same time trains and be aware that a seat is not 100% guaranteed, as long as they have not submitted the tickets for refund.