I doubt it, - especially on a warm day. Recirculating is done to reduce the energy requirement, and reducing the recirculation proportion would ultimately require a higher rated system.
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can public transport ever recover from COVID-19
- Thread starter Ken H
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RailUK Forums
Listening to Radio 4 this morning, it seems that one PLC at least has told its employees not to come to the office for fourteen days if they've used public transport at the weekend (let alone to get to the office).
I know the private sector has a tendancy to be a bit dim witted on such things but that's no excuse for not challenging it. The rail industry really needs to start battling this perception that has been allowed to fester that public transport is some sort of uniquely potent vector of COVID-19, preferably with studies, facts and figures. There are now a large proportion of activities that are permitted which retain some element of risk in terms of the virus and public transport sits within these. The transport authorities really need to come out all guns blazing.
I know the private sector has a tendancy to be a bit dim witted on such things but that's no excuse for not challenging it. The rail industry really needs to start battling this perception that has been allowed to fester that public transport is some sort of uniquely potent vector of COVID-19, preferably with studies, facts and figures. There are now a large proportion of activities that are permitted which retain some element of risk in terms of the virus and public transport sits within these. The transport authorities really need to come out all guns blazing.
It may well depends on where in the country is primarily located, London and yes it's not a great problem as there's relatively few cases. South West and it's just crazy (with somewhere like Plymouth having something just 4 cases last week and almost none West of there and not many between there and Bristol/Southampton).
However if it's located around Manchester or other Northern towns and cities where there's been local lockdowns then such a requirement could be better argued that it's a good precaution to take (although even then it does sound a little over the top).
Even with the local lockdowns, there is no suggestion that public transport has been a major driver of the infection rate. They might just as well argue for people living in multi-generational households not to come into the office. I do think that the transport industry needs to challenge a bit more.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Transport Focus promoting Head Out to Help Out idea like Eat Out to Help Out
https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/n...-board-with-better-fares-deals-says-watchdog/
2021 fare rises announced tomorrow which will be ridiculous given the current state of travel demand across the network. However, as ive said before the industry is doing very little to go on a charm campaign like the airlines did to show people how safe trains are. Telling us they have sanitiser everywhere is yesterdays news and standard practice wherever you go now anyway. Rail Delivery Group should be leading the charge but these overpaid bureaucrats add no value as usual.
https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/n...-board-with-better-fares-deals-says-watchdog/
2021 fare rises announced tomorrow which will be ridiculous given the current state of travel demand across the network. However, as ive said before the industry is doing very little to go on a charm campaign like the airlines did to show people how safe trains are. Telling us they have sanitiser everywhere is yesterdays news and standard practice wherever you go now anyway. Rail Delivery Group should be leading the charge but these overpaid bureaucrats add no value as usual.
I'd love to go on a trip, I'd even pay full price. Get rid of the mask requirements (even just to "you only have to wear them if it's busy", I like off-peak journeys anyway) and I'll be there.
I agree, I was highlighting that it could be argued in certain areas (even if it has little impact on the number of infections) that large companies where there's a risk of a few cases infecting lots of others it could be seen as a sensible idea.
However for much of the country (including London) there's virtually no need and if it's within Southern areas, especially the South West, it's not at all needed.
Could be. Even in an area with a higher risk of transmission, I'm not sure it's helpful for companies to fixate on one activity out of many, as opposed to say going to reastaurants or taking your child to a soft play area as examples. This is what the company in question was doing, by bringing weekend leisure travel (as opposed to commuting) into the equation.
squizzler
Established Member
How could such a company policy even be legal? Especially if it impinged on the prospects of those asked to stay at home?
I can vouch for that as i get free travel but choose not to use it, like i used to, due to the mask regulations.
Well, I could see it leading to the tribunal if someone reliant on public transport found themself forced out on account of not being able to go to the office.
I visited the folks in Kent by train recently. Wasn't too bad.
At least a couple of my colleagues are voicing concerns about returning to the office, quoting having to use public transport to get there as the issue.
I'm not sure how to address that, really. (I'd say 'get rid of the masks, as they make the whole thing look more dangerous than it is' - but actually I suspect that wouldn't help in this case).
(Others have other reasons not to want to go back. No-one seems especially keen.)
I'm not sure how to address that, really. (I'd say 'get rid of the masks, as they make the whole thing look more dangerous than it is' - but actually I suspect that wouldn't help in this case).
(Others have other reasons not to want to go back. No-one seems especially keen.)
why would they? less commuting costs and time. 'Safety' is a convenient excuse.
I'm not sure in this case; it seems people are genuinely concerned. Most of the people I work with seem to be unduly alarmed and keen on their masks, sanitising, social distancing, etc. That in turn is putting *me* off going back to the office, as I don't want to spend all my time being around fearful people. (plus to be fair, yes, I can't say I miss the commute!)
So *I've* thought about using 'safety' as a convenient excuse, but I don't think I could live with myself if I did so, as I'd be expressing something I fundamentally believe to be irrational. To thine own self be true, and all that.
F Great Eastern
Established Member
I was working from home fully until the middle of last month when I had to come in one day a week which has this week increased to two days per week. There is talk of having to come back full time towards the end of next month but that's still to be confirmed.
At the moment I take public transport but am allowed to travel outside peak times so basically I'm starting work just before 10am and finish just after 3pm. The journeys I take are rather quiet most of the time so no problem social distancing but peak services are busier.
We've had a bit of problem in our company in that some staff have been working from home during lockdown whilst other staff had 4 months off but were paid 100% of their pay since the company topped up the furlough.
Said staff who were off for four months have come back in at the end of July and are throwing hissy fits about why they are in full time and some of us are only in the office 1 or 2 days a week, ignoring the fact that they had 4 months off when we were all working, but in truth, those complaining are doing jobs like physical paperwork, facilities, physical document retrieval and scanning, post, reception tasks and large volume printing that cannot be done at home.
Usually I travel around the region and sometimes further afield as part of my job, but all business travel is off the agenda for the foreseeable future. I have only been on a train twice since March and that was only for a very short hop and I honestly can't think when next time will be and that is from someone who normally is on a train several times a week.
At the moment I take public transport but am allowed to travel outside peak times so basically I'm starting work just before 10am and finish just after 3pm. The journeys I take are rather quiet most of the time so no problem social distancing but peak services are busier.
We've had a bit of problem in our company in that some staff have been working from home during lockdown whilst other staff had 4 months off but were paid 100% of their pay since the company topped up the furlough.
Said staff who were off for four months have come back in at the end of July and are throwing hissy fits about why they are in full time and some of us are only in the office 1 or 2 days a week, ignoring the fact that they had 4 months off when we were all working, but in truth, those complaining are doing jobs like physical paperwork, facilities, physical document retrieval and scanning, post, reception tasks and large volume printing that cannot be done at home.
Usually I travel around the region and sometimes further afield as part of my job, but all business travel is off the agenda for the foreseeable future. I have only been on a train twice since March and that was only for a very short hop and I honestly can't think when next time will be and that is from someone who normally is on a train several times a week.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Which is the guilty company, please?
I believe it's called Carlisle Holdings PLC (whoever they are).
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Interesting - it'll be a bit difficult to get to their registered office without using public transport. It's in Canary Wharf...
I suppose they could sail up the Thames !
This has the ability to be a good marketing tool. Use one train on a Sunday (lots of space, little cost to the railways) and you get to work from home for 14 days. It wont take many companies to do this to ensure that passenger figures are perfectly balanced 7 days a week.
I'm not sure what the issue with public transport at the weekend is, as apposed to using it to commute to an office, however it must be something about seeing people casually dressed.
They were barring people from commuting into the office during the week as well.
Personally, being forced to work from home for fourteen days wouldn't be a selling point.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
You can actually drive there, though the parking isn't cheap. It's not on some sort of island.
squizzler
Established Member
I wouldn't worry about their policies. If this 'Carlisle Holdings' outfit choose to conduct their business in such an illogical and emotionally dumb manner they will soon go under.
It certainly seems a strange way to conduct business.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Is this the same "Carlisle Holdings" as aren't very good at conducting ticket checks on behalf of Northern? If so why am I surprised
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Is this the same "Carlisle Holdings" as aren't very good at conducting ticket checks on behalf of Northern? If so why am I surprised
Wait! What?! They won't let their staff use public transport but they will let them work on it...? *facepalm*
No, they can work on it. However they then have to take 14 days off work!!!
Not sure if that would have any impact on the quality of ticket checks though, what do others think?!?
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