It would be interesting to speculate how much more growth there would have been had we not started on all the tier business etc.
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Government discusses campaign to encourage people to return to public transport
- Thread starter Tezza1978
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It would be interesting to speculate how much more growth there would have been had we not started on all the tier business etc.
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bramling
Veteran Member
How much of the internal cleanliness is because there aren’t so many users, and less of the types of user who hitherto used to leave trains in a disgusting state in the evenings?
The only other extra cleaning is periodical spraying with zoono, and driving cabs being treated at termini (that’s only a relatively recent thing, it wasn’t happening back in the summer).
In the case of Northern, it's a lot more than that - the trains are now normally very clean, with none of the ingrained gunge around seat bases which used to be there all the time.
A valid point. I was simply thinking any comparision with 2020 even where and when the least restrictions would not be very useful.
If you want a humerous view on Yougov polls, watch Dave Gorman's Modern Life is Goodish, series 3, episode 8. It's available to download on Sky, it's also on YouTube. Absolutely hilarious.
kieron
Established Member
Another factor which may discourage people from using the railways is the roads being quieter (on average) than normal, and town centre parking being easier. If it's quicker and easier to drive in, many people will.
Reopening schools to all children will have an impact on this, so the government is doing something to encourage people to return to public transport in the future.
Less helpfully, they're also imposing a large fare rise (CPIH was 1.1% in July).
Reopening schools to all children will have an impact on this, so the government is doing something to encourage people to return to public transport in the future.
Less helpfully, they're also imposing a large fare rise (CPIH was 1.1% in July).
Fare rises at the moment is a pretty stupid thing to do - they should have at least frozen fares until next year.
Agreed. Particularly since it appears that the Chancellor is minded to freeze Fuel Duty, justifying this on the grounds of the pandemic.
A very poor message.
I think there needs to be a concentration on growing the business for the next few years. Fare rises aren't the way to be doing that, particularly over-inflation ones.
2.6% on top of the current fare is a very unambitious aim - getting more people paying the current fare (or even two thirds of the current fare) is what they should be aiming for. And it's not as though they don't currently have the capacity either.
2.6% on top of the current fare is a very unambitious aim - getting more people paying the current fare (or even two thirds of the current fare) is what they should be aiming for. And it's not as though they don't currently have the capacity either.
That is a very good point. The perceived 'cost' and difficult of driving has considerably reduced. Some city centres have reduced parking charges etc. as well.
That, and school kids are quite a sizeable source of demand themselves. Cambridge-Ely was positively buoyant as a flow in autumn, partly due to the level of education-related travel.
The only surveys that i ever hear about are the ones which come up with the answers that the government/media want.
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
For those people saying masks will bring them back to transport - while I have always worn a mask since the law changed and never once gone without or pretended to be exempt, which is more than can be said for everyone unfortunately, I agree and also have to also say that why did nobody look at the risk from wearing a mask for so long?!
Think of journeys from London to Plymouth or Cornwall, or to Edinburgh and North. These are journeys of five, six hours or more with restricted breathing and the body begins to inhale its own carbon dioxide after a while, which is extremely bad for you.
So yes, while I do not like reckless people who want to abandon safety measures for their own convenience, masks need to go as soon as possible.
Think of journeys from London to Plymouth or Cornwall, or to Edinburgh and North. These are journeys of five, six hours or more with restricted breathing and the body begins to inhale its own carbon dioxide after a while, which is extremely bad for you.
So yes, while I do not like reckless people who want to abandon safety measures for their own convenience, masks need to go as soon as possible.
It doesn't fit the narrative.
Same as why the complete lack of any statistical evidence for masks reducing infection rates is never discussed by most politicians or the mainstream media.
But you are allowed to remove a mask to consume food and drink, so totally continuous wearing on such a long journey is not necessary.
Similarly, is there any evidence of the harm of wearing a mask?
Not harm, but the bad thing about them is when people have finished with them they just throw them on the floor or in the bushes.
Aberdeen Street, Winson Green is completly covered with the things. I bet they have probably been thrown there on the floor and in the bushes by patients visiting the hospital given the proximity. Very dirty.
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The idea that a simple fabric face mask can lead to re-breathing of exhaled carbon dioxide has been thoroughly debunked. For example https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/53108405.
That I do agree with. Have picked up several from my own garden. Plus the usual stuff like McDonald's rubbish (shall we ban McDonald's too?)
SouthEastBuses
On Moderation
Fully agree.
I hate masks, but I'd rather be forced to wear one but at least enjoy my freedoms, instead of being forced to stay locked in my house apart from a few walks...
And let me admit. I was the type of person that until now, I'd only go on open top buses or use public transport for essential journeys, with the rest of journeys being done in my car because I was really sceptical about going on public transport. But with cases and deaths constantly going down thanks to the vaccine, I might make a full return to public transport from April onwards
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Hard agree. I'd have a mask stapled to my face if thar was the price for freedom compared to being locked down (which was truly miserable).
Indeed. I can live with reasonable measures, however I consider lockdown to be a truly disgusting and shocking policy.
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
It’s horrible, but you can thank it for why we’re finally getting the covid levels down, along with the vaccine
I will decline the invitation.
Silver Cobra
Member
While wearing a mask is certainly not a pleasurable experience (I have to wear one for most of my working day four days a week currently), I did manage to sustain wearing one travelling from Hitchin/Baldock to Great Yarmouth during the summer of last year, with only taking it off for a few minutes around the time the train stopped at Thetford to eat a quick snack (due to GA being one of the more vigilant TOCs for enforcing wearing them on platforms, I didn't take it off at either Cambridge or Norwich while waiting for my next connection). As such, for now, wearing one while on a journey of around 1.5-2.5 hours would not put me off making the journey, once the 'Stay At Home' order is dropped.
It's not really either/or though. The vaccine is the solution. If masks were much good, we wouldn't have been in lockdown for two months.
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