Getting ready for the new world of travel

GTR shares its top tips for those who need to head back onto the trains

As people across the country begin to see the gradual ease to lockdown, the prospect of taking on the ‘new world commute’ for those who must travel by train, may seem a little daunting. While the advice is clear that people should still consider whether their journey is necessary and wear a face covering if travelling, inevitably many will be nervous about the prospect of heading onto public transport in the future.

To help ease customer concerns, the key workers from Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern (operated by Govia Thameslink Railway – GTR) have come together to create a short video. Taking passengers behind the scenes, the video helps reassure them of the work being done and demonstrate the small things we can all do to stay safe.

In addition, the team at GTR have offered their Top Ten Tips for travelling in the new world, from using your elbow to open the door to avoiding eating or drinking on the train [see attached infographic at the bottom of this release in the related content section]. 

Steve White, Chief Operating Officer at GTR says; “Throughout the Coronavirus lockdown, the teams at Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern have been working solidly to keep key workers moving and now, as restrictions ease, they are again working effortlessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all passengers. While we are doing our bit, we ask all our passengers to consider the safety of others and follow our top ten tips and where possible stagger their journey as much as possible to help everyone stay safe.”

The teams at Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink hope that their top tips will reassure customers and help keep everyone safe.

-ENDS-

The YouTube link to the video is: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uNz-A1LUzs&feature=youtu.be

GTR is supporting social distancing with a wide range of measures:

One-way and queuing systems at the busiest stations, with 19,000 floor signs across the network, 25,000 train signs, posters, adverts and announcements to remind people to socially distance

1,000 touch-free hand sanitiser points have been put in at stations

A staff app has been developed to monitor passenger volumes and movements to identify ‘hot spots’ across the network – it uses data from trains, ticket sales, ticket gates, and from staff seeing where social distancing may not be being observed. This can also be used to modify services where possible

To keep passengers and staff safe, there is an enhanced cleaning regime focused on touch points:

All 2,700 train carriages are sanitised every night

GTR has treated all its trains with a powerful new viruscide which sticks to surfaces, killing viruses for up to 30 days.

This product is also being used to treat stations, offices and other staff locations such as depots.

GTR’S TOP TEN TIPS FOR TRAVELLING:

1.Do not travel if you feel unwell or have any symptoms of Covid-19

2.Please wear a face covering when you are travelling on the train and ensure you sanitise your hands before and after travelling

3.Use contactless payment as much as you can or switch to the Key smartcard – this means that you can avoid going to the ticket office and/or machines as much as possible

4.If you can, try and stagger your journey and avoid the morning and evening peaks

5.We’re keeping our trains clean but every little action can help – how about using your elbow to open the door button to keep your hands clean

6.Please try to avoid eating and drinking on board – you’re best to keep your face covering securely in place for your whole journey

7.When taking the escalator, please stand on the right, do not walk down on the left and leave a few steps in between yourself and the person in front to allow for a gap

8.Try boarding at the front or end of the train as there may be more space

9.Please do your best to keep your distance from other travellers, let’s all help each other

10.To help keep you and everyone around you safe, follow social distancing guidance at stations and advice from our friendly station staff

For any further information please contact Spider PR on:

GTR@wearespider.com

0207 403 6900