Rail services to be increased on May 18th

[111-111-1]

the issue is going to be, say, the nurse who has traveled from Wigan to Preston for the last 5 years, with an annual season ticket, and had a train to herself for the last 6 weeks... hasn’t seen this news, turns up on Monday and is told she’s not allowed on the train. Enter Daily Mail stage left.

Or in your example a nurse who has been called in because of a staff shortage or stayed on late because of an emergency.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Avanti appears just to have a single Chester/North Wales service, the 0655 up from Holyhead and 1710 down.
The Euston-Glasgow direct occupies its xx10 path for most of the day (calling at Crewe).
There are no Birmingham-Chester Voyager shuttles as has operated during the key worker period, as a Euston-Birmingham-Preston service operates.
I suspect the Voyagers are only being utilised in pairs, to give a reasonable capacity with social distancing.
The new timetable is only valid for the first week, however, so maybe changes are still possible.

Maybe the Welsh Government's delay in loosening lockdown has affected things - the TfW timetable is still very limited.
There's no North/South Wales services, and 2-hourly shuttles from Chester on most routes in the north, now including Liverpool (and NT to Leeds).
Chester-Manchester Airport is now hourly.

 

[dk1]

the issue is going to be, say, the nurse who has traveled from Wigan to Preston for the last 5 years, with an annual season ticket, and had a train to herself for the last 6 weeks... hasn’t seen this news, turns up on Monday and is told she’s not allowed on the train. Enter Daily Mail stage left.

I would imagine every case will be dealt with logically especially during the first week. I wouldn't envisage it being much of an issue.

 

[Bald Rick]

I would imagine every case will be dealt with logically especially during the first week. I wouldn't envisage it being much of an issue.

We’re potentially talking about barrier staff at Euston, remember! (Who, to be fair, I have never had any issue with)

 

[Staffordian]

Typical misreporting from the Beeb, though, it's not "advance tickets", it's reservations which can be issued against any ticket. Avanti have also said that it's not absolute, it's just that you may be refused, unlike LNER. Basically the same situation as from Euston on Christmas Eve.

The actual report is correct re reservations, it’s the headline mentioning ‘advance tickets‘ which is the problem. (In my view a common issue in all news media because the headlines aren’t written by the same people as the articles so are not specialist in the subject).
Unfortunately, the distinction between reservations and advance tickets would be lost on most people anyway unless they are regular inter-city travellers or rail employees.
If the headline discourages rail travellers, it’s all well and good anyway because it supports Grant Shapps’ statement “it”s our Civic duty to avoid Public Transport”.

 

[ctrh136]

Thameslink will be running a Saturday service based on the May 2020 timetable as Luton for example sees direct Rainham services Monday to Saturday as of next week.

Also a few extra peak services, 1 to/from East Grinstead, 2 in the peak direction to/from Orpington via Catford and one in the peak direction from Littlehampton.

 

[Aictos]

Also a few extra peak services, 1 to/from East Grinstead, 2 in the peak direction to/from Orpington via Catford and one in the peak direction from Littlehampton.

Ahh I didn't know about those so thanks for the above.

 

[jfollows]

The Times seems to have done a better job in its report: (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/reservations-only-rail-plan-for-social-distancing-cgtwsrms8)

CORONAVIRUS
Reservations-only rail plan for social distancing

Graeme Paton
Friday May 15 2020, 12.01am, The Times
Transport

Passengers could be barred from intercity trains unless they have a reservation under plans to promote social distancing.

The main operators on the west and east coast main lines will largely move to a “reservation-only” system from Monday to limit the number of passengers in each carriage.

Only about one in four seats will be able to be used on long-distance trains to ensure travellers maintain the recommended two metre gap to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The change will be made by Avanti West Coast and London North Eastern Railway, the main operators on the two principal north-south lines between London and Scotland.

Train companies are preparing to increase services from Monday. All mainline train operators will run a 70 per cent service — similar to a Saturday timetable — while a similar level of Tube services will operate in London.

A leading academic has warned of major coronavirus outbreaks among passengers using public transport if precautions are not taken. Dr Julian Tang, from the department of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said that if “travel by public transport is unavoidable, try to keep the windows open and if possible wear at least some form of home-made mask over your nose and mouth”.
Thousands of people who are unable to work from home returned to the workplace for the first time on Wednesday. Today, the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies and Network Rail, reported a 25 per cent increase in the number of people using National Rail Enquiries to plan future journeys. It indicates that services will see a large increase in demand over the coming weeks.
The body warned that passengers face lengthy queues to access rail platforms to limit dangerous levels of overcrowding on short distance commuter trains. In a briefing document, the group said that “platform zones” at stations would help prevent too many people congregating in the same area.

 

[yorksrob]

Is there any link to any sort of study into transmission on public transport provided by Dr Tang ?

It would be useful to have some data on this.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The actual report is correct re reservations, it’s the headline mentioning ‘advance tickets‘ which is the problem.

Agreed. This is of course the railway's fault for calling them that; if they'd called them "Apex" or whatever as a brand people would know it didn't refer to them.

 

[Staffordian]

Agreed. This is of course the railway's fault for calling them that; if they'd called them "Apex" or whatever as a brand people would know it didn't refer to them.

Good point. I always buy tickets in advance for travel from Stafford to London, but usually they are not actually ‘Advance tickets’ - which would take some explaining to the ‘man in the street’ !

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good point. I always buy tickets in advance for travel from Stafford to London, but usually they are not actually ‘Advance tickets’ - which would take some explaining to the ‘man in the street’ !

"Virgin Value" was a good clear name. Generically they could have been called "Value Advance" or similar.

 

[Mag_seven]

"Virgin Value" was a good clear name. Generically they could have been called "Value Advance" or similar.

"Avanti Advance"?

 

[PG]

The Times seems to have done a better job in its report: (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/reservations-only-rail-plan-for-social-distancing-cgtwsrms8)

Dr Julian Tang, from the department of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said that if “travel by public transport is unavoidable, try to keep the windows open and if possible wear at least some form of home-made mask over your nose and mouth”.

Is there any link to any sort of study into transmission on public transport provided by Dr Tang ?

It would be useful to have some data on this.

I question whether the good Dr has much recent experience of using public transport since most forms no longer have opening windows?

 

[yorksrob]

I question whether the good Dr has much recent experience of using public transport since most forms no longer have opening windows?

This did occur to me - those VEP's and EPB's with a large droplight at every seating bay would be ideal (although 100% facing seating would be less so).

It does worry me that public transport is being singled out as a high risk factor for spread, yet I've seen little data/study/evidence as to how high that is in comparison to other settings.

 

[Staffordian]

It does worry me that public transport is being singled out as a high risk factor for spread, yet I've seen little data/study/evidence as to how high that is in comparison to other settings.

The problem is that Public Transport is virtually the only location where social distancing is virtually impossible which is still open. All others - pubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, universities, theatres, gyms, sports stadia etc. are just closed.
As a result we are faced with a constant bombardment of ‘avoid public transport’ messages which will stay in the public mind for a very long time.

 

[yorksrob]

The problem is that Public Transport is virtually the only location where social distancing is virtually impossible which is still open. All others - pubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, universities, theatres, gyms, sports stadia etc. are just closed.
As a result we are faced with a constant bombardment of ‘avoid public transport’ messages which will stay in the public mind for a very long time.

That is true to an extent - and I hadn't really thought about it in that way before.

That said, in a theatre or a football stadium, there's not really the possibility of mitigating risk by going at a quiet time, which although imperfect, there is obviously more scope to do so on transport.

I'd still like to see some data/study on the subject, but obviously that may take time.

 

[PG]

As a result we are faced with a constant bombardment of ‘avoid public transport’ messages which will stay in the public mind for a very long time.

Sadly we may now be faced by a whole generation who will endeavour to avoid public transport.

 

[Ianno87]

"Avanti Advance"?

"Advanceti"

 

[PG]

"Advanceti"

Avanticipo

 

[dk1]

Sadly we may now be faced by a whole generation who will endeavour to avoid public transport.

People have short memories.

 

[Carlisle]

I'd still like to see some data/study on the subject, but obviously that may take time.

Sadly at present, the number of deaths particularly amongst the likes of bus drivers says it all, really .

 

[Silverlinky]

Passenger loadings WMT Euston Arrivals 0610-0910.

Wednesday: 719 passengers
Thursday: 698 passengers
Friday: 593 passengers

 

[Bletchleyite]

This did occur to me - those VEP's and EPB's with a large droplight at every seating bay would be ideal (although 100% facing seating would be less so).

It does worry me that public transport is being singled out as a high risk factor for spread, yet I've seen little data/study/evidence as to how high that is in comparison to other settings.

There may be some element of "lumping in" - the deep Tube is so cramped that I can barely see how it *isn't* a vector, but a nearly-empty Pacer (large cross-section and opening windows) might be quite different.

 

[yorksrob]

Sadly at present, the number of deaths particularly amongst the likes of bus drivers says it all, really .

That would seem intuitive - given that bus drivers spend a whole shift in the passenger saloon and tend to have a high degree of contact with passengers.


That said, we don't know what proportion of bus drivers are of high risk to the disease, whether there were other factors such as shared depot facilities etc. This is one area where further study would be useful.

There's also the fact that the risk of being, sat in the passenger saloon for a whole shift, being in contact with large numbers of passengers, few of them taking precautionary measures such as face masks throughout the journey, will be very different to the risk of a passenger sat on a quiet train for half an hour with most passengers wearing face masks. That's why there needs to be a lot more data.

 

[yorksrob]

There may be some element of "lumping in" - the deep Tube is so cramped that I can barely see how it *isn't* a vector, but a nearly-empty Pacer (large cross-section and opening windows) might be quite different.

This very likely true. My fear is that because London has a problem with its dependance on public transport, the rest of us will be disadvantaged to an extent that simply isn't necessary.

 

[Silverlinky]

Sadly at present, the number of deaths particularly amongst the likes of bus drivers says it all, really .

Latest available figures suggest 28 Bus Driver deaths out of a 27000 strong workforce. What does 1 in 1000 say really? It suggests that with 34000 deaths in the UK from a 67 million population then the death figure for Bus Drivers is twice the average of the general population.

 

[MDB1images]

TPE on West Coast running through to Manchester Airport from Edinburgh instead of terminating at Preston.
There's a Liverpool to Glasgow ( it's off an Oxenholme to Liverpool)in the morning.
Capacity will be as per social distance measures short term(in essence it's still mainly still just key workers who are travelling at the moment so capacity hasn't been an issue!)

 

[infobleep]

South Western Railway don't seem to be increasing their services by much from Monday or have I missed something in what I've been reasing?

For example Farnham to Guildford is still two hourly as is Aldershot to Ascot. Alton and Basingstoke to Waterloo still hourly.

They are running more peak services from Portsmouth but off peak still only two an hour. No trains between Dorking and Epsom.

Are there a stats to show which lines are most likely to have people who work from home. If so thus thus show SWR don't need aSaturday service, such as like what Govia Thameslink Railway seem to be looking to provide?

Talking of the Farnham to Guildford being one train every two hours, along with the Aldershot to Ascot. I see that Great Western Railway are returning to the level of two trains an hour between Reading and Redhill. They aren't going to Gatwick Airport.

It seems odd that they will be running two an hour where as South Western Railway will still only run one train every two hours. There must be a reason for thus difference. The first train from Guildford to Farnham isn't until 8:53 and from Farnham to Guildford. 8:04.

How helpful is that for passengers needing to reach work?

 

[Bald Rick]

South Western Railway don't seem to be increasing their services by much from Monday or have I missed something in what I've been reasing?

For example Farnham to Guildford is still two hourly as is Aldershot to Ascot. Alton and Basingstoke to Waterloo still hourly.

They are running more peak services from Portsmouth but off peak still only two an hour. No trains between Dorking and Epsom.

Are there a stats to show which lines are most likely to have people who work from home. If so thus thus show SWR don't need aSaturday service, such as like what Govia Thameslink Railway seem to be looking to provide?

Talking of the Farnham to Guildford being one train every two hours, along with the Aldershot to Ascot. I see that Great Western Railway are returning to the level of two trains an hour between Reading and Redhill. They aren't going to Gatwick Airport.

It seems odd that they will be running two an hour where as South Western Railway will still only run one train every two hours. There must be a reason for thus difference. The first train from Guildford to Farnham isn't until 8:53 and from Farnham to Guildford. 8:04.

HHis helpful is that for passengers needing to reach work?

I don’t know where you’re looking, but Dorking - Waterloo is hourly, as is Guildford to Waterloo via Leatherhead. These weren’t running last week. Shepperton gets its Waterloo services back, Fareham gets its Waterloo services back (via Basingstoke), etc etc.