Coronavirus: Unions warn increased rail services could lead to public 'flouting the rules'

Putting on more trains too soon could risk lives, unions claim – as transport secretary Grant Shapps says work times could be staggered to help avoid crowded carriages

The UK’s rail union leaders have written to Boris Johnson to share their “severe concerns” over any moves to increase train services as part of an expected easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

The three main rail unions co-signed the letter, warning the prime minister increasing services would send out a “mixed message” that it is okay to travel by train, despite official advice suggesting otherwise.

“This mixed messaging could be dangerous and lead to the public flouting the rules on travel and work,” said the Aslef, RMT and TSSA unions.

The unions also claimed ramping up of services too soon would put the lives of rail staff and commuters at risk. They pointed out there was no agreement yet on how services could be increased while protecting workers and passengers through social distancing.

It comes as transport secretary Grant Shapps outlined some of the possibilities for lifting restrictions and getting people back to work – including staggered work times to ease crowding on public transport.

The joint letter states: “We will not accept new working patterns that put the lives of railway workers and passengers at risk. To be clear – we are not convinced that there is any basis at this time for a safe escalation of services.”

The union leaders called on the government and train operators to work with them to establish what the demand to increase services might be and how it can be delivered safely.

“There will have to be an industry-wide agreement with the unions that any increase in services does not increase danger and the risk of virus transmission for our members, for passengers, or for our communities,” they added.

“Seeking a blanket increase in services as part of a symbolic and premature drive to apparent normality, at the potential risk of countless lives, is completely unacceptable to us.”

The letter was signed by the general secretaries of Aslef, the RMT and the TSSA, Mick Whelan, Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes.

On Sunday Mr Shapps setting out some of the ways in which the government is considering easing lockdown restrictions to get the economy moving again, with the prime minister expected to announce plans at the end of this week.

Mr Shapps said workers who do end up heading back to their desks may have to travel into the office at different times to allow for more social distancing on public transport.

“Things like staggering work times, obviously are very important to avoid those morning peaks. The crushes would be completely at odds with social distancing,” the transport secretary told Sky News.

The minister also suggested that trains, buses and stations could be equipped with hand sanitiser. His department is reportedly considering asking commuters to check their temperature before travelling.

The head of one rail operator told the BBC last month that social-distancing could reduce the capacity of an individual train by between 70 per cent and 90 per cent.

London’s transport system could struggle to cope with demand when the lockdown is eased, according to briefing shared among emergency planners and leaked to the media last week.

The London Strategic Co-ordination Group (SCG) document reportedly said the capacity of the Tube and bus services would be cut to 15 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, compared with normal levels, if a two-metre space between passengers is enforced.