I was going to post this before the recent announcement about a new railway structure. Our answers might now be different.
Going by my commute to and from work by car, I think the ToCs are in for a big shock. The traffic over the last few weeks has got quite bad. Looks like a lot of people are still going the office.
The increase in traffic round my way has been very conspicuous ... however many places which would previously have been jammed at times like 1700 still aren’t even close to it.
A lot of the traffic we’re seeing is clearly leisure related, which is quite curious seeing as there shouldn’t now be *that* many people off work completely, even if many are still not back to the office.
I do tend to agree that there is going to be a bit more of a return to the office than some are predicting. “I want to continue working from home” doesn’t mean it will happen in many cases.
I seriously doubt the traffic heading out of Reading at 07:30am on a weekdays is leisure related. The queues heading out of Reading at 5pm on a weekday are also something to behind
13th September would be nice. I’m hoping for more horrendous road traffic congestion soon. That’ll all help kick start things.
You wouldn’t think so but I struggle to spell the word let alone know what or who’s still on it. I think a wake up call is coming for many.It does seem to be the case that people are very keen to get out and about when it comes to leisure, but don’t seem to share the same enthusiasm when it comes to returning to work. Surely that can’t last forever, but then how many times has furlough been extended? (There can’t be *that* many people still on furlough, can there?).
A lot of the traffic we’re seeing is clearly leisure related, which is quite curious seeing as there shouldn’t now be *that* many people off work completely, even if many are still not back to the office.
In this part of Hertfordshire traffic is back to normal. Same queues at the same times in the same places.
Yesterday on the strategic road Network was horrendous. M1 was jammed for most of the way from Luton to Northampton from around midday, M25 was solid from the A1 to the A3 anti-clockwise and almost the same clockwise from around 1500. Clearly being the first Friday where you are officially allowed to go away and stay has been a big part of that.
I also know a fair few people take time off this week and/or next to go away, as they now can. So I’m not surprised the traffic is as it is.
How come the sudden explosion in people taking time off? It isn't half term or anything this week.
1) because you can now go away and stay with friends / in hotels etc, and having been not allowed to for the last 6 months or so are keen to do so again
2) a significant majority of adults in this country do not have school age children.
In the case of Northern Trains, the newest part of their fleet seems to be suffering from what can best be described as "CAF syndrome".Somewhere between doubtful and impossible, with crewing being a major issue.
Then if you take GTR’s GN services, they have just binned off no fewer than 21 units from their fleet.
No doubt there’s an element of waiting to see what happens when “work from home” is no longer guidance.
I would hope that the previous off peak frequencies should return to normal soon, peak enhancements that is mostly the preserve of the London commuter TOCs maybe not, although with the partial working from home that many are expecting will be a permanent feature, what happens if everyone chooses the same days?I was going to post this before the recent announcement about a new railway structure. Our answers might now be different.
I would hope that the previous off peak frequencies should return to normal soon, peak enhancements that is mostly the preserve of the London commuter TOCs maybe not, although with the partial working from home that many are expecting will be a permanent feature, what happens if everyone chooses the same days?
It does seem to be the case that people are very keen to get out and about when it comes to leisure, but don’t seem to share the same enthusiasm when it comes to returning to work. Surely that can’t last forever, but then how many times has furlough been extended? (There can’t be *that* many people still on furlough, can there?).
Judging by the numbers of people who claim they "intend" to work from home on Fridays and Mondays, I think there's going to be some rude awakenings, likewise for those who seem to think being on the roads on the way to their newly extended weekend break will count as working from home!
Had to drive into Watford in the morning peak last week. A41 at pre covid levels but the run into the town centre lighter. Traffic seems to be back but not necessarily where expected.In this part of Hertfordshire traffic is back to normal. Same queues at the same times in the same places.
Yesterday on the strategic road Network was horrendous. M1 was jammed for most of the way from Luton to Northampton from around midday, M25 was solid from the A1 to the A3 anti-clockwise and almost the same clockwise from around 1500. Clearly being the first Friday where you are officially allowed to go away and stay has been a big part of that.
I also know a fair few people take time off this week and/or next to go away, as they now can. So I’m not surprised the traffic is as it is.
what happens if everyone chooses the same days?
Everyone won’t.
Had to drive into Watford in the morning peak last week. A41 at pre covid levels but the run into the town centre lighter. Traffic seems to be back but not necessarily where expected.