Uncertain future for public transport as passenger levels still 'well below normal'
Here is the picture of what's happening in Cornwall and Devon...
Public transport across Devon and Cornwall faces an uncertain future unless people get back on the buses and trains.
The Peninsula Transport Shadow Sub National Transport Body on Thursday morning heard that patronage on buses remained under 50 per cent across the region, while train usage, while increasing, was only at 35 per cent of pre-lockdown levels.
Although Government support was being provided to transport operators to ensure they continue to run the loss-making services, questions were raised about how long it would last and over the severe impact it would have on communities if routes ceased running.
And the Government were urged to sort out the messaging they would putting out as there were still significant numbers of people who are still under the impression that public transport should only be used where essential.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had told people that they should avoid public transport if at all possible, although messaging has since changed to allow people to use buses and trains for any purpose that they wish.
But Cllr Mark Coker said that passenger levels were not returning to normal levels and that people were under the impression government advising them to use it only if it is essential.
He said: “We are stuck at this rate. We have a huge rural area and if bus patronage does not return to usual soon, there will be financial implications for the bus companies and the local authorities. Are we going to actively encourage people to get back on buses, and will the DFT change their message?
“I am using the buses in Plymouth and people are under the impression the Government is advising them to use it only if essential.”
Councillor Mark Coker, Plymouth City Council
Cllr Geoff Brown added: “The original message to only use public transport if essential nosedived the passenger numbers when we didn’t have an issue with capacity in the first place. For those using the buses it was essential. We have done a lot of work to make people safe, but the messaging isn’t helpful, so can we promote public transport in the near future?”
Councillor Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council
Dave Gilnos, from the Department for Transport , said that a huge package of funding has been established to support the continued operation of bus services and he didn’t expect any services to fall aside while the funding is in place.
He added: “There will come a time when government say they cannot keep supporting the industry forever more, and t the question is when that funding will cease. Social distancing is limiting capacity to 50 per cent of what it was previously, and some buses are full, but full is 50 per cent so isn’t generating the revenue it was once.
“Work is on under way on a bus recovery strategy and will come out in the Autumn. We know it is an issue, they are providing support in the short term, and have a plan to move forward in the short-medium term and a bus recovery strategy.”
Dave Gilnos, Department for Transport
On the messaging, he added that it has migrated from avoid using public transport, to anyone can now use public transport at any time in England.
But he added: “A blanket message from government to get on public transport is not helpful for some regions with where some services are at capacity, but there may be something locally that we can do and happy to work on a local communication plan.”
Daniel Round, from GWR, added that the message was changing to ‘travel with confidence’ and to try and entice people can onto the railway.
He said: “We are seeing a uplift in numbers in the westward routes. We are now up to 30/35 per cent, when at the height of the pandemic, it was down at 2/3 per cent. We have extended the agreement with the DFT until June until next year so a sign of stability, and from this weekend, we will change out timetable to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic services.
“In the South West, some patronage numbers are back to 50 per cent at weekends, so we are moving in the right direction, and will be put out messages about travelling with confidence, with a face mask as mandatory.”
Daniel Round, GWR