father_jack
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- Joined
- 26 Jan 2010
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Word is coming around this evening that further to the announcement of the "Emergency Measures Agreement" on the 23rd March, DfT have stated that ticket offices should restore opening hours to encompass what is in "Schedule 17", which is the big 45 page list of opening hours for every ticket office in the whole rail system. However Coronavirus distancing measures should be taken into account with only one sales position ever open at most locations.
Not good from the point of view that if a complicated refund say, comes in five minutes before the one train you have in a half hour period due to the reduction in service levels or if it's time for a wee or a tea !!!
There had recently been cuts to opening hours at many locations, however it was mostly done by local managerial decision (or indecision in some cases !).
For info-
Schedule 17-
https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/files/Publications/services/rsp/tsa_schedule_17_july_2019.pdf
(Format goes awry in quote tags)
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-emergency-measures-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Not good from the point of view that if a complicated refund say, comes in five minutes before the one train you have in a half hour period due to the reduction in service levels or if it's time for a wee or a tea !!!
There had recently been cuts to opening hours at many locations, however it was mostly done by local managerial decision (or indecision in some cases !).
For info-
Schedule 17-
https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/files/Publications/services/rsp/tsa_schedule_17_july_2019.pdf
(Format goes awry in quote tags)
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-emergency-measures-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Written statement to Parliament
Rail emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
We're supporting train operators to make sure our railways stay open for key workers during the coronavirus outbreak.
Published 23 March 2020
From:
Department for Transport and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP
Delivered on:
23 March 2020
In these uncertain times, the railway has a vital role to play in ensuring Britain’s key workers can travel and vital supplies are kept moving. My absolute focus is on making sure services continue so that journeys that are vital in tackling this crisis can continue to take place, so today (23 March 2020), to make sure our railways stay open, we are providing train operators on franchises let by my department the opportunity to temporarily transition onto Emergency Measures Agreements.
These agreements will suspend the normal financial mechanisms of franchise agreements, transferring all revenue and cost risk to the government. Operators will continue to run day-to-day services for a small, pre-determined management fee. Companies entering into these agreements will see a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for an initial period of 6 months, with options for further extension or earlier cancellation as agreed.
Today’s offer will provide greater flexibility to the train operators and the government and make sure the railway can continue to react quickly to changing circumstances and play its part in serving the national interest. It will ensure vital services continue to operate for key workers who are keeping the nation running and that we are able to reinstate a normal service quickly when the situation improves.
In the longer term these agreements will also minimise disruption to the rail sector. The railways have already seen up to a 70% drop in passenger numbers, with rail fares revenue reducing as people increasingly work from home and adopt social distancing, and total ticket sales down by two-thirds from the equivalent date in 2019. Suspending the usual financial mechanisms will not only guarantee that services can be sustained over this difficult period, it will also provide certainty for staff working on the railways, many of whom are working hard every day in difficult conditions to make sure we keep the railway running.
This is not a new model, it is a temporary solution, taking the steps necessary to protect services now in a cost-efficient way, and ensuring current events have as little impact as possible on the railway in the longer term. Allowing operators to enter insolvency would cause significantly more disruption to passengers and higher costs to the taxpayer.
Fees will be set at a maximum of 2% of the cost base of the franchise before the COVID-19 pandemic began, intended to incentivise operators to meet reliability, punctuality and other targets. The maximum fee attainable will be far less than recent profits earned by train operators. In the event that an operator does not wish to accept an Emergency Measures Agreement, the Government’s Operator of Last Resort stands ready to step in.
Alongside our focus on keeping the railways open to support key workers, we recognise there will be many who have heeded government advice and chosen not to travel. We don’t want people to lose money for doing the right thing, so I am also announcing today that passengers will be able to get refunds for advance tickets they aren’t able to use while the government advises against non-essential travel.
We have agreed with all the train operators that passengers who have already purchased an advance ticket will be eligible for a refund without any charge. Those holding a season ticket that they no longer wish to use will also be eligible for a partial refund, determined by the amount of time remaining on the ticket. Ticket holders should contact their retailer for further details.
Given the significant timetable changes that have put been in place we are also asking operators to use discretion to allow passengers with advance tickets to travel on an alternative train at a similar time or date if their ticket is technically no longer valid as a result of cancellations, but they still wish to travel.
We are operating in extraordinary times, but today’s announcement will make sure key workers who depend on our railways are able to travel and carry on their vital roles, that hardworking commuters - who have radically altered their lives to combat the spread of coronavirus, are not left out of pocket, and it will provide certainty to the industry’s staff who are still working hard every day to make sure the railway plays its part in tackling this crisis.
