Britain gets back to work: Police patrol stations as services return to 70% capacity - but commuters are enraged by short trains and lack of face-masks
- Rail passengers will be required to wear face coverings during their journey and book seats on many services
- Some rail companies proposing to allocate time-restricted ‘travel slots’ at stations to prevent overcrowding
- Sadiq Khan has said he will bring services up to 70% of capacity today - but many European cities are at 100%
- Mayor of London has also brought back the congestion charge - two weeks early - reimposed from today
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
More Britons are heading back to work today as the lockdown eases but commuters face major changes on the railways and Tube as services returned to 70 per cent of normal levels.
Travellers are also being urged to wear face coverings on trains and buses to prevent the spread of coronavirus but it appears the majority of people have shunned or not been able to get hold of masks. And panicked passengers complained of packed trains and some mainline services ran with half the usual number of carriages.
Millions heading to work today have also been told to allow for social distancing - but despite floor stickers being installed on trains in European cities to ensure people stay two metres apart - they don't appear to have been put in on the Tube.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted during rush hour this morning: 'London’s doing an incredible job slowing the spread of #COVID19, but if we’re to prevent a disastrous second wave we must all continue to stay at home as much as possible and avoid any unnecessary travel, especially on public transport. Don’t let up now. Let’s keep it going'.
Passengers on at least four major lines will be told to reserve a seat in advance if they have to travel – or face not being able to board.
And going forward commuters could even be told to book a slot to enter their local railway station to prevent overcrowding, with stewards brought in to manage crowds at Clapham Junction today - Europe's busiest station by interchanges. Security guards were also deployed at other stations to prevent rush hour surges.
But those who commuted into major cities today complained that while there were more trains - services were not up to scratch. The Tube was also busy again in rush hour, especially on routes from east London into central London most used by blue collar workers such as those in the construction industry.
And Giovanni Cefaliello tweeted from his London-bound train today: 'Hardly any passengers going towards London have face masks on, I would say maybe one in every 50 have one on! That is not good enough!'
While Edward Reeves. who travelled to London on a Greater Anglia service tweeted: Why was the 0443 service to LST from Colchester this morning only a 4 carriage? It's usually an 8 carriage. Social distancing is difficult enough without halving the capacity of a train'.
Roads also appeared busier today as Sadiq Khan brought back the congestion charge two weeks early - before the price rises from £11.50 to £15 next month and is imposed on weekends for the first time.
Mr Khan's transport chief Heidi Alexander today urged people to stay away from public transport as many more people were due to return, and tweeted: 'LONDON: please don’t use public transport unless you really have to. Work at home if you can. Don’t travel first thing. Wear a face covering. And always wash your hands before and after you travel'.
As Britain's travel network edged back to normal, it was also revealed today:
- Boris Johnson will not vary lockdown rules across the country - despite the R coronavirus infection rate ranging widely in different regions;
- Government announces £130million plan to manufacture Oxford Covid-19 jab the moment it's proved to work, so UK can have 30 million doses ready by Autumn and be first nation to get it;
- Europeans pack onto beaches and throng to bars and cafes as life begins to return to normal on the continent;
- But the World Health Organisation has said that Europe must prepare for a second deadly wave of the coronavirus;
Stewards line up at Britain's busiest railway station for interchanges, Clapham Junction in south-west London, as train services were increased today
Social distancing was not possible on the Jubilee Line into London today and the majority were not wearing masks
The majority of people who crammed on to this Tube train at Canning Town before 7am today were not wearing face masks as Britain returns to work
Tube services are being returned to 70 per cent of capacity today but many say that it should be at 100% to maintain social distancing
Commuters at London Bridge Station this morning after the prime Minister Boris Johnson said the public should be encouraged to head back to work if they can't work from home
Signs warning people not to travel without face coverings and hand sanitiser stations have appeared at Tube stations
Traffic builds up on the A102 in Greenwich on the approach to the Blackwall Tunnel in south-east London as Sadiq Khan brought the congestion charge back in central London today
Sadiq Khan has again urged people to stay at home unless they have to leave - but people on public transport have complained there were not enough face masks
Traffic in London remains way short on pre-lockdown levels - but are increasing every day as more people return to work
Last night Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that he understood booking in advance was not as convenient for passengers, but it was important to help stop the spread of the virus.
Rail operators are also likely to scrap first-class carriages to free up space so commuters can sit further apart, with season ticket holders refunded and given standard passes.
In the weeks ahead, some rail companies on commuter routes are also proposing to allocate time-restricted ‘travel slots’ to enforce staggered commute times. Operators have agreed that train guards will no longer walk up the aisles checking tickets.
Buffet cars and trolleys are to be axed and passengers will be discouraged from eating their own food and drink on board.
Although timetables will be restored to 70 per cent of normal levels, passengers are being urged to stay at home amid fears of crowding.
The Government has said that people should still only travel for limited reasons such as going to work if they cannot do their job from home. Public transport should be avoided where possible, with people using cars, walking or cycling if they can.
Those who must use train services will be asked to limit contact with staff and ticket machines by downloading e-tickets to smartphones.
They will also be required to wear face coverings – different from medical masks – during their journey. Passengers will face queues to get into stations at the busiest times.
Commuters leave London Bridge Station and walk down Tooley Street this morning where pavements were far busier than they had been over the past two months
This bus passenger in north London posted this picture on the top deck where people were clearly not two metres apart
Passengers board and leave a train at a station in Bracknell, Berkshire, as train services increase for the first time since lockdown
To allow for social distancing, passengers on at least four major lines will be told to reserve a seat in advance if they have to travel. Pictured: Liverpool Street Rail Station in London
Passengers face major changes on the railways as services are ramped back up to 70 per cent of normal levels today. Pictured: Passengers wear face masks at Liverpool Street Rail Station in London
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that he understood booking in advance was not as convenient for passengers, but it was important to help stop the spread of the virus. Pictured: Passengers social distance in the queue at Liverpool Street Rail Station in London
Pictured: Liverpool Street Rail Station in London
Operators also have powers to close busy platforms and use social media to warn passengers to stay away. A vast public information campaign has been introduced at stations.
Ministers are braced for a potential clash from transport unions, which are deeply opposed to any increase in services and have threatened to walk out if social distancing is not observed.
Union leaders are calling on the Government to issue free face masks to passengers and to make sure social distancing is enforced.
To control passenger numbers, London North Eastern Railway has announced it will only accept customers with advance tickets.
The operator said numbers on board each train will be limited to a fifth of seats. Avanti is also asking passengers to pre-book – along with Great Western Railway and Chiltern Railways.
Dave Kaye, of rail giant Abellio, said: ‘This is going to be a game changer for travel habits. I think it’s a paradigm shift in rail travel.’
He added: ‘We may have to become slightly closer to airline-style pricing, meaning tickets might cost more or less on certain days or at certain times.’
Mr Shapps told the Mail last night: ‘From today we’re introducing an important new ticketing system to help fight the spread of Covid-19 and keep the travelling public safe.
'Until further notice, anyone wishing to travel on either the Avanti or LNER cross-country services should book their ticket in advance.
'This change will enable social distancing for all passengers by allowing us to block off certain seats and provide a safer environment for everyone.
‘We understand that this isn’t as convenient as walking up and purchasing your ticket, but I know the travelling public will understand that – in these exceptional times – we want to take every possible measure to help people stay alert and stop the spread of the disease. The system is likely to be extended to other inter-city services soon.’
By car, by bike and on foot... tourists ignore stay away plea
By Rebecca Camber Chief Crime Correspondent for The Daily Mail
Day-trippers flocked to parks and beaches yesterday to take advantage of the loosening of lockdown, ignoring pleas from tourism bosses to stay away.
Roads surrounding beauty spots in the Peak District and locations including Birling Gap on the South Coast were jammed with traffic as visitors ventured out to enjoy the warm weather.
National police chief Martin Hewitt had pledged a continued crackdown on large gatherings but city parks, seaside promenades and national parks were crammed with those meeting for picnics and parties.
In Lancashire, police were astonished to find a mother had laid on a baby shower in a communal play area with dozens of guests, a buffet and bouncy castle.
Walkers, runners, dog owners and cyclists flock to Wimbledon Common in London yesterday
When two community officers tried to break up the event in Morecambe, they were told it did not matter as ‘schools were going back’ soon while some of the party-goers became abusive.
In Telford, Shropshire, police shut down a rave attended by 70 revellers who said they were ‘sick of self-isolation’. West Mercia Police said a DJ had set up the party at Granville Country Park on Saturday night.
Over the weekend, the Peak District National Park urged day-trippers not to visit the area after car parks filled up. On Twitter, they said: ‘This area [Langsett] is extremely busy with car parks currently full and social distancing difficult.
‘Please don’t travel to the area or park outside designated bays.’ But tourists simply parked up on local roads instead.
Cars fill up the verges as day-trippers head off to the cliffs at Birling Gap near Beachy Head in East Sussex
In Dartmoor car parks were closed due to overcrowding which made them too busy for social distancing.
The Dartmoor Ranger Team asked visitors to stay away from locations including Bellever, Two Bridges, Postbridge, Newbridge, Hennock, reservoirs and sites on the western side of Dartmoor. There were similar scenes at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, where visitors parked on grass verges to stroll along the clifftop.
In Brighton, the council asked people to stay away from its seafront but yesterday the promenade was packed as temperatures soared.
A couple were told they faced prosecution for travelling from Scotland to Snowdonia to camp beside Lake Geirionydd.
Hundreds of motorcyclists descended on Matlock Bath in Derbyshire, where the appeared to ignore social distancing rules yesterday
Hundreds of bikers flooded into Matlock Bath in the Peak District, a popular destination for motorcyclists. Passers-by said they were shocked as the bikes lined the main street while visitors were enjoying ice creams and fish and chips.
Steve Manion, 30, said: ‘It was disgusting. There were bunches of people brushing up against each other. No one was adhering to social distancing.’
In the Yorkshire Dales, campers were fined after pitching tents near Surrender Bridge, Swaledale. Police are set to face more problems enforcing the rules with Wednesday predicted to be the hottest day of the year with temperatures predicted to climb as high as 27C (80.6F).
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2020-05-18 07:39:57Z
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