Rail firms abandon Government messaging to avoid unnecessary journeys

Rail firms are abandoning the Government’s message to avoid unnecessary journeys as they try to convince people to return to public transport.

Rather than encouraging customers to seek alternative transport, Thameslink's new advertising urges passengers to instead "travel safely this summer".

The new posters tell customers to wear a face covering, wash their hands and consider travelling during quieter times.

The Department for Transport removed the guidance that public transport should be avoided from its website last week, but it still instructs commuters to work from home or use alternative methods of transport if possible.

The current messaging is at odds with ministers’ advice around working, with the Government making a push towards getting people back to offices.

Some ministers fear some retail and services outlets will be shuttered for good unless greater numbers of workers return to their offices.

But it seems as if many commuters have ignored such calls, with Network Rail claiming passenger numbers were at 20 per cent of pre-Covid levels on Monday, with no discernible increase in footfall from a week earlier.

Despite the reopening of many parts of the economy and a change of tone from the Government, posters across the transport network still advise passengers to avoid “public transport if possible”.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, is calling on the Government to change its “confusing messages”.

Mr Smith told the Daily Telegraph: “Many people will have welcomed slowly getting back to some form of normality but as many are still encouraged to work from home, it is no surprise that passenger numbers have been slow to increase. We also know that some are uncertain whether they can, or indeed should, use public transport for ‘non-essential’ journeys.

“For some the bus, train or tram is their only available transport, and it isn’t fair if they are put off travelling by confusing messages. We have pressed Governments and rail operators to make sure their information is consistent."

Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, this week urged people to return to work.

“We want to see more people back at work on the shop floor, in the office, wherever they can be,” he said.

Boris Johnson echoed his sentiments last week when he said that “people should be going back to work if they can”. #

Whitehall sources said the next step in easing lockdown was to establish the best ways to restore public confidence in transport, particularly trains, while ensuring people follow "best practice" to prevent transmission such as good hygiene and mask wearing.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) put forward proposals for improving the public transport network in light of coronavirus.

In a new report with accounting giant KPMG, it suggests that the use of mandatory face coverings is essential if people are to travel with confidence.

They also call on the Government to provide “better passenger experiences” and improve accountability for services.

Tom Thackray, CBI Director of Infrastructure, said: “As lockdown conditions ease and more of the economy reopens, public transport networks will need to adapt to new travel patterns, starting with putting people’s safety first to rebuild public confidence.

“Beyond the crisis people will want to work more flexibly, using public transport that is more responsive, reliable and sustainable. Services must be transformed to meet this need. “Investment must focus on better passenger experiences and improving local accountability will be critical to providing greener and more flexible public transport solutions that will stand the test of time and contribute to the UK’s net zero goals.”