Northern Trains Ltd

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern Trains Ltd

(19/06/2020 17:41)wirralbus Wrote:  This change could be the next stage in the ramp up of services , with more services in the peak hours subject to there being enough staff available , probably something in the region of 85/90 % of a normal service . They will want to be back to a normal service at the start of the next School year if possible.

They will have to have a robust plan just in case they need to rollback any changes again if coronavirus rears its ugly head in the Autumn.

Overall Northern are operating a very low proportion of services compared to other operators. On some routes it's currently just 25% of peak time services that are operating. Many routes are getting a full Sunday service so that helps improve Northern's average figure.

There's various scenarios they should prepare for - one being that the 2m rule changes, another being that their services will need to carry a significant number of school pupils from Sep and that they'll be social distancing measures still in place (even if it's not everyone everyday.)

Another difficulty is how return to office will work - the government guidance suggests some working from home should remain but also recognises that everyone working from home every day has negative implications. In somewhere like Wilmslow where you have a few major employers each employing hundreds (the ICO, Royal London, Waters Corp) that will probably mean the number of commuters travelling each day will be fairly consistent. In other towns where you might have no very big companies but a significant number of smaller businesses that might mean they'll be almost normal loadings on certain days of the week. Smaller businesses may also find it more difficult to introduce flexible working for those who have to travel by train e.g. if business hours are 08:30-5 then they won't want their one receptionist working 10-7.