Coronavirus Implications For London's Transport

Yes I agree I think the answer is simply going to be no. There’s no realistic way of enforcing distancing, and people will inevitably pack on trains. The most we may see is some seats marked as out of use and some labels on the floor - no doubt with some raised tempers when people inevitably ignore them.

The bigger issue will be whether staff object to this. We’re already seeing ER issues brewing up, the atmosphere in some locations has heavily degenerated over the last couple of weeks partly due to the timetables fiasco but also no doubt simply a function of people growing fatigued of all this. Staff have the legal right to work in a safe environment - thusfar things have run fairly smoothly with little going wrong (low stress on assets, low passenger numbers, and a non-troublesome breed of passenger!), but this isn’t going to continue forever.

I dealt with a track fire this week, no problem achieving distancing as on the various trains used there wasn’t anyone in the front car so we were able to spread out, but with a packed train we’d have had to have tipped out and gone through empty. Respecting distancing meant the whole thing took about twice as long to deal with as normal.

The Bakerloo line have now started partitioning off the front third of the saloon in the driving cars, in a similar way to the DLR. Obviously these trains do not have cab side doors, so it creates a safe space for staff to access the cabs via the internal J door.

On the Met, this week’s service was further revised for Amersham/Chesham trains to run fast ‘all the way’ in both directions, stopping at Wembley Park. This is the first time the Met has offered a sustained, old-school fast all day fast service since such trains were withdrawn in 2011. At weekends the previous service of Amersham trains running to Harrow and Chesham trains running to Watford remains.

Indeed -- I took a snap of that yesterday on my travels (key worker related). Don't have a site to host the image, but if anyone's interested drop me a PM.

What has been noticeable is people's reactions to each other, particularly when I've not been able to avoid peak hours (H&C between Paddington and Kings X at 1830 yesterday for example). One person will sit down (leaving a seat's gap) but the person nearest to them scampers off elsewhere. Some frustrated / borderline angry looks kicking about too. Based on the little I've seen, the rush hour's pushing it in terms of social distancing, even while the lockdown remains in its current state, and I could well imagine tempers fraying if it gets any busier.

I saw a report that suggests that to ensure full social distancing train capacity (on the Underground) will go down to 15%.

In Wuhan the number of cars on the roads once people were allowed out of their homes doubled whilst the number of people using the metro halved.


I wonder when the buses will start charging fares again? Or will it matter - because if car usage soars (as in Wuhan) then the buses will be clobbered from traffic congestion so severely that it will be quicker to walk.


I am resigned to a second wave later this year - in the autumn

Just signed up for a Flickr account (spend enough time on it; may as well contribute I guess!). Image available here:

flic.kr/p/2iWwQPA

Cheers ~ Jim.

Indeed, hinged on the left from the outside. There’s a small line of text under the Bakerloo bar on the right saying “Open this side ->”.

Presumably as these are the only stock on which there is no access to the driving position except through the passenger saloon. All the others have separate doors to the cab. (The 1972 stock cab design is the same as that of the 1967 stock, and I understand they had no cab doors to prevent a driver leaving the automatic train (deliberately or otherwise) after starting it.

Correct. It is exactly this - to provide safe access to/from the cab( area)s for drivers.

No short formations on LUL. Piccadilly line double-ended units are cleared and capable of running singly, but Bakerloo line trains are not - the 'middle' cabs have not been kept up to date with all of the necessary equipment.

With the numbers travelling (it is increasing day on day) social distancing would become even more problematic with half sets.

I don't believe the DLR are running short units either, whilst LO and TfL Rail have been running double 315s rather than shortening (in the case of LO) off peak. All of this is to maximise social distancing opportunities.

Is this planned to be a circle or T-cup resumption, or are details so sketchy we don't even know that yet for definite?

What's the road traffic situation like in Central London? I expect that with the restriction on 'non-essential' travel, it will be possible for vital workers to drive themselves to work by car, just like we do here in the North-East.
(My only view of London traffic is of Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, where traffic is noticeably sparse).

Is the congestion charge still being enforced?

No, it’s been suspended.

I presume it’s these sorts of stats which have informed the government’s policy to clear out public transport to make it fully focussed on key workers.

In inner London, at least in normal times, you don't need a car and there are limited places to park them if you do have them (and even then this can cost quite a bit).