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Post by thelondonthing on Mar 19, 2020 5:09:38 GMT
TfL has announced that it will begin cutting services from this week in response to coronavirus conditions, saying that it will "run a reduced service to enable London's critical workers to make essential journeys". Details of the service reductions were revealed in a press release. On the subject of bus services, TfL says: It added: Additionally, 40 tube stations are to close until further notice; the Waterloo & City Line will also close on Friday. From next week, Trams, DLR, TfL Rail and London Overground services will all be reduced. The full press release is available here. TfL's main advice to all passengers now is this: "Everyone urged not to use public transport for anything other than essential journeys".
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Post by southlondonbus on Mar 19, 2020 6:29:32 GMT
Its makes sense. Even this week so fewer workers are going into central London.
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Post by thelondonthing on Mar 19, 2020 18:18:56 GMT
During the Prime Minister's daily coronavirus press conference today, there were a couple of nuggets relevant to London's public transport network.
The PM was asked why the government hasn't yet followed other major European nations in effectively 'locking down' their capital cities, and whether or not that might still be an option for London. In his response, the PM said that it was clear that Londoners are already voluntarily heeding the government's advice in huge numbers, saying that "there is huge evidence that they are, in takings across the retail sector, the hospitality sector; TfL in inner London, down about 80%, in outer London, down about 60%" [emphasis added].
If those figures - citing TfL revenues down 80% in central London, and down 60% elsewhere - are accurate, they are remarkable, and it's no surprise that TfL is scaling back its services in the face of such a massive, near-instantaneous decline.
The centrepiece of today's press conference was the PM's assertion that the UK can "turn the tide" against the virus within the next 12 weeks, but only if we, as a nation, follow government advice to avoid all social contact, avoid all but essential travel, and remain at home as often and for as long as possible.
That of course means that Londoners - along with all our fellow Brits - will be facing many more months of this extraordinary situation. That's no surprise, but it also means that TfL's finances will be obliterated for months to come, which will surely leave a huge hole in its finances. One can only wonder what impact that will have on future services and major projects planned across TfL's network.
But in the more immediate term, I have to wonder how much longer TfL will be able to sustain even its newly reduced 'Saturday services' across the network; if revenues really are down by as much as the PM stated, then we'll surely see a further, and perhaps more dramatic, reduction in services in the near future to better reflect demand (and to manage costs more efficiently).
However, the PM also made it clear that there are no plans to shut the network down completely:
Of course, if there's one thing we've learned from this crisis, it's that things can change pretty quickly...
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Post by londonbuses2018 on Mar 19, 2020 19:39:03 GMT
Keep safe everyone.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2020 21:04:53 GMT
Could this perhaps please be merged with the existing Corona virus thread?
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Post by thelondonthing on Mar 19, 2020 21:33:20 GMT
Why on earth is the existing coronavirus thread in a forum labelled "Off-Route - The place to literally go off-route, talk about anything that's not bus or train related right here"?!
That is literally the last place I would look for a thread about how coronavirus is affecting bus and train services. In fact, when I looked around for a coronavirus thread before posting this one, I didn't even look in there because it would have made no sense for such a thread to be in that forum. And yet... (?!)
If this thread is to be merged with that one, may I suggest moving that thread into a more logical location, so that it's easier for everyone to find?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2020 21:46:37 GMT
Why on earth is the existing coronavirus thread in a forum labelled "Off-Route - The place to literally go off-route, talk about anything that's not bus or train related right here"?! That is literally the last place I would look for a thread about how coronavirus is affecting bus and train services. In fact, when I looked around for a coronavirus thread before posting this one, I didn't even look in there because it would have made no sense for such a thread to be in that forum. And yet... (?!) If this thread is to be merged with that one, may I suggest moving that thread into a more logical location, so that it's easier for everyone to find? It was just a suggestion to make things easier - not the time to arguments , I just thought it would make sense to keep all together. To answer the question I started the original much earlier in the crises and was more about transport in general so never really fitted in just one area.
Wish I never bothered suggesting the change.
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Post by thelondonthing on Mar 19, 2020 21:50:50 GMT
My apologies - my post wasn't intended to be as confrontational as it obviously came across. I was really just venting a little steam (after a slightly grumpy day...), but I didn't intend for it to be an attack. No offence intended.
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Post by greenboy on Mar 19, 2020 22:08:49 GMT
During the Prime Minister's daily coronavirus press conference today, there were a couple of nuggets relevant to London's public transport network. The PM was asked why the government hasn't yet followed other major European nations in effectively 'locking down' their capital cities, and whether or not that might still be an option for London. In his response, the PM said that it was clear that Londoners are already voluntarily heeding the government's advice in huge numbers, saying that "there is huge evidence that they are, in takings across the retail sector, the hospitality sector; TfL in inner London, down about 80%, in outer London, down about 60%" [ emphasis added]. If those figures - citing TfL revenues down 80% in central London, and down 60% elsewhere - are accurate, they are remarkable, and it's no surprise that TfL is scaling back its services in the face of such a massive, near-instantaneous decline. The centrepiece of today's press conference was the PM's assertion that the UK can "turn the tide" against the virus within the next 12 weeks, but only if we, as a nation, follow government advice to avoid all social contact, avoid all but essential travel, and remain at home as often and for as long as possible. That of course means that Londoners - along with all our fellow Brits - will be facing many more months of this extraordinary situation. That's no surprise, but it also means that TfL's finances will be obliterated for months to come, which will surely leave a huge hole in its finances. One can only wonder what impact that will have on future services and major projects planned across TfL's network. But in the more immediate term, I have to wonder how much longer TfL will be able to sustain even its newly reduced 'Saturday services' across the network; if revenues really are down by as much as the PM stated, then we'll surely see a further, and perhaps more dramatic, reduction in services in the near future to better reflect demand (and to manage costs more efficiently). However, the PM also made it clear that there are no plans to shut the network down completely: Of course, if there's one thing we've learned from this crisis, it's that things can change pretty quickly... I don't know how accurate those figures are but I suspect the PM is pragmatic enough to realise this is about as close as we are going to get to a lockdown although as you rightly say things can change pretty quickly.
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mr24
Conductor
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Post by mr24 on Mar 19, 2020 22:10:32 GMT
So what affect, if any, will this have on the upcoming contract changes? And would it be totally irresponsible to go into central London to ride the highly anticipated new buses on the C10? It may be sensible for Abellio to deliberately not introduce all the Caetanos at once so bus enthusiasts are not tempted to descend into Southwark to try the new buses.
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Post by SILENCED on Mar 19, 2020 22:14:50 GMT
So what affect, if any, will this have on the upcoming contract changes? And would it be totally irresponsible to go into central London to ride the highly anticipated new buses on the C10? It may be sensible for Abellio to deliberately not introduce all the Caetanos at once so bus enthusiasts are not tempted to descend into Southwark to try the new buses. The official advice is to not take any non essential travel ... What definition does riding new buses come under in your world?
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mr24
Conductor
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Post by mr24 on Mar 19, 2020 22:20:49 GMT
So what affect, if any, will this have on the upcoming contract changes? And would it be totally irresponsible to go into central London to ride the highly anticipated new buses on the C10? It may be sensible for Abellio to deliberately not introduce all the Caetanos at once so bus enthusiasts are not tempted to descend into Southwark to try the new buses. The official advice is to not take any non essential travel ... What definition does riding new buses come under in your world? Yes exactly, riding new buses is the epitome of non-essential travel, which is why I alluded to the fact that it would be a pretty irresponsible thing to do which is why I don't intend to do it. I was just intrigued to see if everyone else thought the same. It's amazing how quickly it has spread, considering 2 weekends ago I went down to South London to ride some buses and it did not in any way cross my mind that it could be a damaging thing to do, yet now leaving the house is heavily frowned upon.
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Post by greenboy on Mar 19, 2020 22:29:33 GMT
The official advice is to not take any non essential travel ... What definition does riding new buses come under in your world? Yes exactly, riding new buses is the epitome of non-essential travel, which is why I alluded to the fact that it would be a pretty irresponsible thing to do which is why I don't intend to do it. I was just intrigued to see if everyone else thought the same. It's amazing how quickly it has spread, considering 2 weekends ago I went down to South London to ride some buses and it did not in any way cross my mind that it could be a damaging thing to do, yet now leaving the house is heavily frowned upon. As with anything else it's up to each individual to decide what is or isn't essential. It's all a bit surreal really, you can sit at home watching the TV and think the world was coming to an end then look out of the window and see life going on pretty much as normal.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 19, 2020 22:40:46 GMT
So what affect, if any, will this have on the upcoming contract changes? And would it be totally irresponsible to go into central London to ride the highly anticipated new buses on the C10? It may be sensible for Abellio to deliberately not introduce all the Caetanos at once so bus enthusiasts are not tempted to descend into Southwark to try the new buses. The issue here is that Abellio shouldn't interrupt their business just to cater for enthusiasts who don't know the difference between what they should and shouldn't do. Buses are not the be all and end all, even if some people don't care about catching Covid-19 they will certainly aid transmission to vulnerable groups which is the immediate problem. It's a sacrifice we all have to make, and one we will all probably struggle with however what needs to be done needs to be done. Life isn't always going to be a straight line, there will be hitches along the way and this is certainly one of them.
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Post by vjaska on Mar 19, 2020 23:58:01 GMT
So what affect, if any, will this have on the upcoming contract changes? And would it be totally irresponsible to go into central London to ride the highly anticipated new buses on the C10? It may be sensible for Abellio to deliberately not introduce all the Caetanos at once so bus enthusiasts are not tempted to descend into Southwark to try the new buses. The issue here is that Abellio shouldn't interrupt their business just to cater for enthusiasts who don't know the difference between what they should and shouldn't do. Buses are not the be all and end all, even if some people don't care about catching Covid-19 they will certainly aid transmission to vulnerable groups which is the immediate problem. It's a sacrifice we all have to make, and one we will all probably struggle with however what needs to be done needs to be done. Life isn't always going to be a straight line, there will be hitches along the way and this is certainly one of them. Especially when the C10 runs through the three boroughs with the highest amount of cases in Lambeth, Southwark & Westminster - the way I look at it is the more we adhere to the advice, the less draconian any future measures will have to be though many people are still ignoring advice so I suspect more draconian measures are imminent.
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