Published on: Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Last updated: Wednesday, 24 June 2020
In anticipation of more people returning to work and needing to travel by train, Greater Anglia has launched an information service to help guide rail passengers to quieter and less popular trains, to help with social distancing on-board.
The operator will conduct passenger counts at key stations on the routes to and from London Liverpool Street from Mondays to Fridays and upload the data to its website twice a week.
Passengers will be able to visit https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/less-busy-trains and see green, amber and red colour-coded alerts – green for less busy trains, up to red for those that are nearing capacity so that passengers can choose a less busy train to travel on.
The alerts are not based on the actual capacity of trains, but a reduced capacity figure, so that safe social distancing can be maintained on board.
The ‘red’ alert will be triggered when a train reaches 75% or more of its reduced capacity.
Although the information is not live, it will offer a picture of those services which are starting to become busier and direct people to those which have more space.
Greater Anglia is also reminding passengers that they should only travel by train if their journey is really necessary and that face coverings must be worn on board to protect themselves, railway staff and other passengers.
This became compulsory from 15 June 2020.
Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial, Customer Service and Train Presentation Director, said, "We’re working hard to keep trains and stations clean, regularly disinfecting high contact areas, and would encourage passengers to help us to help them stay safe by taking note of the less busy trains and, if they need to travel, making their plans accordingly.
"We would also remind them to continue to follow all government guidelines such as wearing a face covering when travelling, washing hands or using hand sanitiser regularly, and not travelling if you have any coronavirus symptoms."
Greater Anglia’s Less Busy Trains alert system will cover the following routes:
Cambridge – London Liverpool Street
Colchester / Clacton / Braintree - London Liverpool Street
Hertford East – London Liverpool Street
Norwich – London Liverpool Street
Southend - London Liverpool Street
Stansted Airport - London Liverpool Street
Passengers can find additional information, covering the national rail network by using the National Rail Enquiries or Facebook Messenger travel alerts.