Getting people back on trains as lockdown eases.

[Ianno87]

.
50% of the seats were free but people are scared to sit next to strangers.

I imagine its also in partly "I'd be happy to sit down but don't want to worry the person I'd be sitting next to"

It's going to take time to adjust back to "normal"!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

I imagine its also in partly "I'd be happy to sit down but don't want to worry the person I'd be sitting next to"

It's going to take time to adjust back to "normal"!

Funnily enough, 5 minutes after posting this I got on a bus to be greeted by the driver "the only free seats available are sitting next to somebody else, are OK with that?"

It was of course fine - I just had to mentally pick out the person least likely to be fussed by me sitting next to them!

 

[Jamesrob637]

I just had to mentally pick out the person least likely to be fussed by me sitting next to them!

Which surely would've been the case even pre-COVID?!

 

[Failed Unit]

It was of course fine - I just had to mentally pick out the person least likely to be fussed by me sitting next to them!

The one with their bag on the seat next to them, or the only one sitting on an Aisle seat

 

[greyman42]

To add to Train Manager anecdotes, experienced one recently on LNER who emphasised repeatedly the importance to re-cover faces between food and drink “mouthfuls” which seemed over the top. As with others experiences this then was contrasted by the catering member making PAs trying to encourage such snack purchases!

Should point out TM did conduct full ticket check and was actually very pleasant in person - potentially just reading an extreme script

I would be confident in saying that LNER do not issue its Train Managers with such scripts.

 

[dk1]

If you look on LNER's Twitter, they are getting a handful of passengers every day griping about how there are passengers on their trains without masks. The routine response is that some people are exempt, and it's BTP's job to enforce it. That's inevitably followed up by a wholly unsourced claim that "they can't all be exempt", at which point they always just say that they've asked the manager to make another announcement.

On the face of it that's an easy way for them to do literally nothing and still appear responsive, but I do wonder if it prompts some of the more imaginative messages.

I can’t believe passengers still gripe about others not wearing them on Twitter. This has been going on since last summer. You think they’d have got the message by now & not constantly harass them with something they can do nothing about.

 

[HST274]

but people are scared to sit next to strangers

The closest I have seen people sit is on a two opposite two formation with no table and the people sit on the corners. Y is people
X Y
Y X
I may also have seen 3 people 'squeeze' onto a 3 opposite 3.
Y X Y
X X Y

 

[philosopher]

According to the DfT, for the week ending the 23rd May, National Rail use was at 42% of normal and tube use was at 45% of normal. National Rail figures for last week will probably get revised up a few percentage points next week, so both National Rail and the tube probably had their best week since March 2020. The tube had a particularly good day on Saturday 22nd May, with use being at 58% of normal.

 

[dk1]

According to the DfT, for the week ending the 23rd May, National Rail use was at 42% of normal and tube use was at 45% of normal. National Rail figures for last week will probably get revised up a few percentage points next week, so both National Rail and the tube probably had their best week since March 2020. The tube had a particularly good day on Saturday 22nd May, with use being at 58% of normal.

I thought I read somewhere that LNER has reported to be back as high as 55% on occasions recently.

 

[Ianno87]

I thought I read somewhere that LNER has reported to be back as high as 55% on occasions recently.

BUT BUT BUT people hate face masks and compulsory reservations, right?

 

[squizzler]

The rise in traffic is pleasing, especially since the UK has emphatically not got the “all clear” and will be likely increasing precautions in other things shortly, indicating that the persistence of public anxiety over train travel is overestimated. Gaining over half the previous traffic feels like some sort of rubicon being crossed.

 

[VauxhallandI]

BUT BUT BUT people hate face masks and compulsory reservations, right?

Not too many are wearing them though are they?

 

[dk1]

BUT BUT BUT people hate face masks and compulsory reservations, right?

Some would lead you to believe that. I find many people including myself are used to them now & wouldn’t allow it to deter me from travelling.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

Not too many are wearing them though are they?

Those I see whilst working trains recently seem to be wearing them far more. You’ll always get some that don’t but I find they are the ones you notice rather than those that have them on correctly.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Some would lead you to believe that. I find many people including myself are used to them now & wouldn’t allow it to deter me from travelling.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==


Those I see whilst working trains recently seem to be wearing them far more. You’ll always get some that don’t but I find they are the ones you notice rather than those that have them on correctly.

On the LO Cheshunt line I’d have put it at about 50%

 

[Smidster]

BUT BUT BUT people hate face masks and compulsory reservations, right?

There is of course a massive difference between disliking the requirement and it leading you to not travel - if the decision is wear a mask and socialise or don't wear one and stay at home alone most will put up with the mask.

Somewhat related - from this weekend National Express coaches will allow 100% capacity. Other measures, including temperature checks, remain of course but step in right direction. Let's hope the likes of LNER / Avanti follow soon

 

[Ianno87]

Not too many are wearing them though are they?

On my journeys I'd estimate at least 90% of fellow users wear masks. Non-compliance (exemptions aside) isn't as widespread as some on this forum seem to insist.

 

[takno]

On my journeys I'd estimate at least 90% of fellow users wear masks. Non-compliance (exemptions aside) isn't as widespread as some on this forum seem to insist.

It appears to be extremely variable across the country and by time of day, so really everybody can make different statements about what they've seen and still all be right.

That said, I think the point most people on the forum are making isn't that people are travelling without masks, and more that people are not travelling because of masks. If only 10% of people you see are not wearing masks that is probably a sign that a significant number of people who really can't deal with them for long periods are being put off travelling.

 

[VauxhallandI]

On my journeys I'd estimate at least 90% of fellow users wear masks. Non-compliance (exemptions aside) isn't as widespread as some on this forum seem to insist.

Well you can either believe or not; I care not.

The real world facts of the matter are that half the country are under the stairs and wear a mask alone in the street whilst in London, tubes, trains, workplaces and hospitality is full and most of these have been occurring for sometime and the Sky hasn’t fallen in.

I know where I’d rather be.

 

[Bikeman78]

On the LO Cheshunt line I’d have put it at about 50%

The Hertford East line is the worst I've seen. It also appears to be where most vandalism to class 317s occurs, judging by the number of light fittings strewn along the track around Hertford and Ware.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

I went for ride on the valleys today. I passed the 1633 Penarth to Rhymney and was quite surprised to see it was full at Heath High Level, even after quite a few people had got off. The 1717 Cardiff to Treherbert was a fairly well loaded 143+150. Without the 143 it would have been cosy. The 769s had better work next week or there will be a lot of full two cars.

Meanwhile the roads were wedged, I went sailing past dozens of stationary cars on my bike. I expect that as the roads become increasingly unbearable more people will go back to trains.

 

[VauxhallandI]

The Hertford East line is the worst I've seen. It also appears to be where most vandalism to class 317s occurs, judging by the number of light fittings strewn along the track around Hertford and Ware.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

I went for ride on the valleys today. I passed the 1633 Penarth to Rhymney and was quite surprised to see it was full at Heath High Level, even after quite a few people had got off. The 1717 Cardiff to Treherbert was a fairly well loaded 143+150. Without the 143 it would have been cosy. The 769s had better work next week or there will be a lot of full two cars.

Meanwhile the roads were wedged, I went sailing past dozens of stationary cars on my bike. I expect that as the roads become increasingly unbearable more people will go back to trains.

The worst in what respect?

Different line mind you to the LO to Cheshunt

 

[Bikeman78]

The worst in what respect?

Different line mind you to the LO to Cheshunt

Worst (or best?) in respect of people not wearing masks. Also the busiest of the three class 317/379 routes.

 

[Bald Rick]

I thought I read somewhere that LNER has reported to be back as high as 55% on occasions recently.

That’s on reservable capacity, ie not ‘normal’ full capacity.

Not too many are wearing them though are they?

I’ve been on several trains today, one of which must have had 400 people on it. I didn’t see anyone, at all, without a face covering. Same when walking around Euston, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras.

 

[trebor79]

It appears to be extremely variable across the country and by time of day, so really everybody can make different statements about what they've seen and still all be right.

That said, I think the point most people on the forum are making isn't that people are travelling without masks, and more that people are not travelling because of masks. If only 10% of people you see are not wearing masks that is probably a sign that a significant number of people who really can't deal with them for long periods are being put off travelling.

This.
I did 15 hours by train over the past 2 days. No chance I'd have done that with a mask clamped to my face (but nor would I have wanted to drive either) but luckily for me I'm exempt. Had no hassle from any other passengers or staff, pleasingly.
I do find it all a bit absurd to be honest. Everyone sat there with a mask on, till they take it off for half an hour to eat or have a chat on the phone etc. Similarly on the hotel, everyone doing the daft 15 second masking up to walk to their breakfast table. Just silly.

 

[VauxhallandI]

This.
I did 15 hours by train over the past 2 days. No chance I'd have done that with a mask clamped to my face (but nor would I have wanted to drive either) but luckily for me I'm exempt. Had no hassle from any other passengers or staff, pleasingly.
I do find it all a bit absurd to be honest. Everyone at there with a mask on, till they take it off for half an hour to eat or have a chat on the phone etc. Similarly on the hotel, everyone doing to daft 15 second masking up to walk to their breakfast table. Just silly.

Total theatre

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2021 ==

Worst (or best?) in respect of people not wearing masks. Also the busiest of the three class 317/379 routes.

I don’t miss the 315 and 317’s at all

 

[Killingworth]

This.
I did 15 hours by train over the past 2 days. No chance I'd have done that with a mask clamped to my face (but nor would I have wanted to drive either) but luckily for me I'm exempt. Had no hassle from any other passengers or staff, pleasingly.
I do find it all a bit absurd to be honest. Everyone sat there with a mask on, till they take it off for half an hour to eat or have a chat on the phone etc. Similarly on the hotel, everyone doing the daft 15 second masking up to walk to their breakfast table. Just silly.

It is but some are still terrified when they encounter an unmasked fellow human so will avoid public transport for a long time, and walk out in front of traffic rather than pass on the pavement.

We took a heritage tour down to Penzance last year. Staff all masked. Us masked when on platforms and moving anywhere in the train. However we had frequent refreshments so the masks were off for almost the entire journey when sat at our tables. A film crew recorded a Great Railway Journey during a pandemic and you'd never have known when watching on TV! We were very well distanced and windows were open - providing us with showers of battered lineside vegetation!

 

[bramling]

I can’t believe passengers still gripe about others not wearing them on Twitter. This has been going on since last summer. You think they’d have got the message by now & not constantly harass them with something they can do nothing about.

I was back to work last weekend after annual leave. Barely back an hour and we had a handle pulled - guess what, someone in the carriage not wearing a mask.

Does seem to have tailed off though, as has the numbers wearing them - and that seems to be extending to shops now too.

 

[dk1]

I was back to work last weekend after annual leave. Barely back an hour and we had a handle pulled - guess what, someone in the carriage not wearing a mask.

Does seem to have tailed off though, as has the numbers wearing them - and that seems to be extending to shops now too.

Someone pulled the pass com just because another passenger wasn’t wearing a mask??

 

[VauxhallandI]

I was back to work last weekend after annual leave. Barely back an hour and we had a handle pulled - guess what, someone in the carriage not wearing a mask.

Does seem to have tailed off though, as has the numbers wearing them - and that seems to be extending to shops now too.

I hope they are fined for misuse

 

[bramling]

Someone pulled the pass com just because another passenger wasn’t wearing a mask??

Yep. This was very common a while back in my neck of the woods, less so now thankfully.

It’s was also the no.1 basis for customer complaints received, though again has tailed off now.

 

[dk1]

Yep. This was very common a while back in my neck of the woods, less so now thankfully.

It’s was also the no.1 basis for customer complaints received, though again has tailed off now.

Thankfully not happened on my patch. Would get a damn good lecture from me if it did.

 

[Andyh82]

On my journeys I'd estimate at least 90% of fellow users wear masks. Non-compliance (exemptions aside) isn't as widespread as some on this forum seem to insist.

In my experience people here who are very vocal about not wearing masks (remember that mask thread here that went to hundreds of pages of people making the same comments over and over again) are the ones who keep reporting low compliance to try and back up there stance.

From what I’ve seen compliance is still high and it’s usually the same obnoxious sorts who don’t wear a mask, groups of lads swaggering down the aisle, other types who probably behave antisocially on board in normal times and won’t follow any rules, including in some cases probably including actually having a ticket.