Transport User Voice – May 2020 – Changing timetables and key workers

27 April 2020

And a big thank you to transport Heroes

‘Timetable changes must be clear and suit your passengers’ the transport watchdog tells operators.

So we’re pleased with our work with the Rail Delivery Group on its initiative to make sure that reduced timetables suit the needs of the key workers. Now more than ever operators need to take into account the needs of passengers. Those travelling are essential workers and they need to have their voices heard when timetables are changed. It has been great to see this happening and we’ve seen a number of examples of good practice from operators.

We must also recognise that this is no mean feat as operators are juggling a reduced number of staff due to those working from home and staff sickness.

In Scotland, from the Highlands to the Borders (and all parts in between) the bus industry is maintaining vital services safely to protect passengers and drivers. This is to ensure key workers get to their jobs and also help people to shop for essentials.

In the Borders free bus travel is provided for NHS staff. Also a demand response bus service has started operating mainly as a shuttle service to Borders General Hospital. In Inverness, bus drivers are helping Highland Council with deliveries to remote rural communities.

There are many other examples across the length and breadth of Great Britain. Operators are working to ensure that the network is robust enough to keep communities connected, provide socially necessary services and facilitate commuter trips for key workers.

In light of all this fantastic work we wanted to say a big thank you to those working in transport who are keeping us moving in extreme circumstances. We commissioned this poem, see below.

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