Number of buses and Tube trains to rise towards pre-lockdown levels, says TfL

London’s transport chiefs are looking to build up bus routes and Tube train services as close to to pre-pandemic levels as possible as soon as they can.

Transport for London is working with staff and the trade unions with the intention of, by 18 May, increasing service levels to around 85 per cent on the bus network.

It also wants to put on 70 per cent on the Tube and London Overground, 80 per cent on the DLR and a full service on TfL Rail.

London Underground is aiming to restore the Circle Line and to re-open some of the 37 stations that have been closed for several weeks.

But some stations will stay closed for now so that staff can be deployed to help manage any congestion at busier stations. Some stations with lift-only access may need to remain closed as social distancing is not possible.

But TfL has warned this does not mean a return to the transport network that existed before the crisis.

The national requirement to maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible means that TfL will only be able to carry around 13-15 per cent of the normal number of passengers on the Tube and bus networks even when 100 per cent of services are operating once again over time.

It is using the London Olympics of 2012 as a starting point – during that period normal travel demand was cut by 20 per cent to keep travel safe. Now, demand will have to be reduced by more than 85 per cent of pre-lockdown levels to enable social distancing.

Even with only five per cent of journeys currently being made on the Tube, there are certain times and locations where social distancing is already very difficult, TfL warned.

The Government is expected to issue detailed guidance shortly that should be followed by businesses, Londoners and others as they consider whether they need to travel and, if so, how. Where people can work from home they should continue to do so, the government is saying this week – and that public transport should be avoided wherever possible.

Only travelling when necessary will ensure the transport network can keep running safely for those who have no alternative.

TfL advice is to walk and cycle if you can. New walking and cycling space is being created through the London Streetspace programme to further support this.

It is also asking:

• Please shop locally and use local leisure facilities to help keep demand on roads, buses and tubes down;
• If using public transport or taxis, travel outside peak times and use a facial covering, carry a hand sanitizer and wash your hands before and after you travel. Face coverings are particularly important where 2m social distancing is hard to maintain;
• Measures to prevent crowding in queues will be in operation. This includes new social-distancing posters on display at bus stops, stations and in shelters, and two-metre floor markings on platforms.
• Comply with staff instructions;
• Drivers should avoid peak times.

Street layouts are being altered to allow for a possible ten-fold increase in cycling and five-fold increase in walking as lockdown restrictions are eased. Plans include additions to the cycling network, including new routes to cut crowding on underground and train lines and on busy buses. Work to widen footways in town centres across London and to reduce traffic on residential streets is also underway.

Hand sanitizer points will be introduced at every Tube and TfL rail station, all bus stations and Victoria Coach Station, and at TfL River Piers, the Woolwich Ferry, Emirates Air Line and at all London Overground and DLR stations. The rigorous cleaning regime for buses, trains and stations will continue.

All taxi and private hire companies and drivers are being asked by TfL to put protective measures in place including face coverings for drivers.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Coronavirus has had a profound impact on public transport in London and will continue to do so long into the future. All public transport providers face huge challenges around social distancing – with the number of passengers TfL can safely accommodate on Tubes and buses reduced by over 85 per cent.

“We will all have to continue playing our part in reducing demand on services by working from home if we possibly can. Please avoid public transport wherever possible. I urge all Londoners to rethink the way they travel. Please avoid peak times, wear a non-medical covering over your nose and mouth and carry a hand sanitizer. By rapidly rolling out more space for walking and cycling through our London Streetspace plan we are enabling many more journeys to be made through these sustainable means which is crucial to our city’s recovery.

“I am pleased that all TfL frontline staff will be offered basic face masks from today.  Along with the introduction of hand sanitizer points in the coming weeks, these additional measures will further protect our heroic staff and passengers at this critical period.”

Mike Brown MVO, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “We need the help of all Londoners in this next period. Like everyone else, we want to see London and the country back moving and working again, safely and sustainably as soon as possible. However, we will not be returning to the transport network that existed before the virus.  As the government has set out, the advice is that people should – for now – continue to work from home where they can and avoid public transport wherever possible.

“Our intention is to progressively build up service levels to as close to pre-pandemic levels as possible, but it is clear life simply won’t be swiftly returning to what it was before. The travel demand challenge facing us outstrips that faced during the 2012 games due to the national requirement to maintain 2 metres distance between passengers wherever possible. That may not always be possible of course given the design of London’s transport network.

“So every person, business, school, college and other institution in London has a vital role to play in this next period to keep everyone safe. We are also asking London to reimagine the way in which they travel, walking and cycling where possible and using the new dedicated facilities for this being created across London.

“Please use facial coverings for any travel on public transport or if using taxi and private hire services. We are providing them to our staff as well and will be installing hand sanitizer across the transport network. The Mayor’s Streetspace programme will also support greater walking and cycling whilst enabling social distancing on streets.”

Tube travel fell 95 per cent and bus travel by 85 per cent after lockdown, to levels of travel on the Tube not seen in over 100 years.

But 80 per cent of TfL’s income comes from fares, so this has had a devastating impact on the its finances.

Further details on tfl.gov.uk