Our station teams are working hard to help keep passengers safe if they have to travel by rail.
If there is no other way to travel, passengers will find social distancing measures in place at stations we own and directly manage. Measures include more staff to help guide passengers, floor stickers marking two metres and hand sanitiser for passenger use.
Caroline Hynds is a shift station manager at London King’s Cross, where about 150,000 people usually come through the doors each day. In recent weeks, footfall has fallen by as much as 92% at the station due to the Government’s restrictions to combat coronavirus.
Along with her team, Caroline is helping to maintain social distancing for passengers and railway employees.
Caroline said: “I’m so proud of our station team at King’s Cross for making sure the station continues to operate smoothly during these challenging times.
“We’ve had to make a lot of changes to the way in which we work and there’s been a huge effort across the industry to ensure the safety of those who need to travel.
“I’d like to thank our passengers for adhering to the guidelines and bearing with us. This is a challenging time for us all, but if we continue to work together and follow the guidelines, we will get through it.”
Emma Watson, station manager at London Liverpool Street, added Liverpool Street had also put stickers on the floor and ticket barriers, and begun using extra signage and a one-way system to help passenger flow.
She said: “We’ve worked really hard to put measures in place to help people keep a safe distance and we’re working with our [train operator] partners and [British Transport Police] to help passengers navigate the new one way systems and complete their journeys safely and smoothly.
“Our cleaning staff are also working hard to disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of the virus. Our railway family have really pulled together and I can’t thank our staff enough for their dedication.”
Passengers are being urged to continue following Government guidelines and only travel if their journey is absolutely necessary.
Gallery: examples of social distancing measures at our stations – London Liverpool Street and London Euston
If you must travel, please look to walk, cycle or drive, but if you must use public transport, follow the guidance – avoid rush hour, wash your hands regularly and keep two metres apart where possible.
People who do need to use the railway should continue to check before they travel via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operators.
Read more:
Coronavirus – how we have responded so far
Railway staff in routine works to keep network running
Railway staff provides logistics expertise for Nightingale hospital
