Tfgm Winter Plan 2020-21

ITEM NO

GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Date: 11 December 2020

Subject: Winter Service Plan 2020-21

Report of: Customer Director

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To provide Members with an update on transport provision during the 2020/21 winter period, including over Christmas and the New Year.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Members are asked to note the contents of the report in respect of the ongoing planning and delivery of transport services and interventions over the winter period.

CONTACT OFFICERS:

Stephen Rhodes Customer Director 07747 767343

Head of Customer Sean Dyball 07767 677 541 Engagement

Equalities Implications:

N/A Climate Change Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measures – N/A Risk Management: N/A Legal Considerations: N/A Financial Consequences – Revenue: N/A Financial Consequences – Capital: N/A Number of attachments to the report:

Appendix 1 To note details of public transport provision and opening hours of TfGM’s assets.

BACKGROUND PAPERS: N/A

TRACKING/PROCESS Does this report relate to a major strategic decision, as set out in the No GMCA Constitution.

EXEMPTION FROM CALL IN Are there any aspects in this report which No means it should be considered to be exempt from call in by the relevant Scrutiny Committee on the grounds of urgency? GM Transport Committee Overview & Scrutiny Committee N/A N/A

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

1 Introduction and Background

1.1 This report outlines the planning activity that TfGM and its Greater Manchester partners have been undertaking to put in place a Winter Service Plan that ensures the transport network is able to support the increase in demand that is expected as lockdown arrangements change in December, including over the festive period.

1.2 Dialogue has taken place to ensure the needs of all ten councils are considered as part of the planning and implementation arrangements. Information has also been gathered from transport operators to inform development of the Winter Service Plan.

1.3 In order to ensure the most effective use of the resources available, an evidence-based approach to decision making has been adopted using all available data to identify key hotspots where we consider there to be a risk of large groups of people gathering.

1.4 Arrangements have been developed in line with the latest government guidance and the intention is for it to evolve as and when the national and local situation changes. Interventions have been focused in areas where TfGM and partners can make a material difference.

1.5 An update on the latest situation with the Winter Service Plan will be presented at the Committee meeting on 11 December.

2 People and Place Challenges

2.1 The key challenge that has continued throughout the pandemic is the uncertainty around how people will behave as restrictions and public perception change.

2.2 Based on the announcement on 26 November that Greater Manchester will be in tier three, the focus of planning has most recently been in respect of the return of non-essential retail in the run up to Christmas.

2.3 TfGM and partner planning activities will continue to evolve and be as dynamic as possible considering there is a two-week review of restrictions and the potential of a vaccination programme commencing early in the New Year.

3 Public Transport Provision

3.1 There are no significant changes associated with the level of public transport provision as we moved out of lockdown and into tier three. However, TfGM will continue to work closely with partners to share data so that any changes to service provision can be considered in line with the latest demand information.

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

3.2 The Appendix outlines the expected service provision over the Christmas and New Year period.

4 People and Place – Areas of Focus

4.1 Based our assessment of last year’s data and what we have experienced throughout the pandemic TfGM is predicting that the highest concentration of demand as a result of coming out of lockdown will be around popular retail outlets and more specifically areas where car parking options are prevalent.

4.2 Recent analysis has highlighted four priority locations:

 Manchester City Centre  Trafford Centre  Snipe Retail Park and Crownpoint – Tameside  The Rock – Bury

4.3 We will update members at the meeting on the latest information and action that is being taken to mitigate the impact on the transport network in locations such as these.

5 ‘Living with Covid’ Interventions

5.1 TfGM has also been working with partners to introduce additional interventions to increase customers perception of safety on the Metrolink network and at key transport interchanges. These measures have been timed to be in place by the end of lockdown and include:

 Additional cleaning at key Interchanges.  Over 500 hours of additional cleaning on Metrolink services during operation.  Introduction of ‘Trambassadors’ to provide on stop customer support.  Rollout of 25 hand sanitiser locations at priority Metrolink stops.  Promotion of the ‘Sunflower’ initiative to support customers with hidden disabilities who may be exempt from wearing a face covering.

5.2 A Metrolink perception survey has recently been launched to better understand the impact these interventions have on customer confidence. The results will be crucial in understanding what measures are most effective in increasing customer confidence once we are able to encourage people back to using public transport.

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

5.3 A full update on progress will be provided at the meeting, including a forward look to areas of focus as we enter the New Year.

6 Recommendations

6.1 A full set of recommendations appears at the front of this report.

Stephen Rhodes

Customer Director

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

APPENDIX 1: Public transport arrangements for Christmas and the New Year holiday period 2020/21

Free Bus – Eccles 0820 – 1600. Weekday or Weekday service Thursday timetable Altrincham Thursday Saturday service until service 1 at Trafford Centre 0800 - Normal service Normal Thursday with last trams to Travelshop 0830 24/12/20 with early finish 1852, service 2 at 0800 – 2000. 1600 with some services tbc timetable with last leave termini no – 1730. 0700-2000 from 1900. hours Christmas finishing at 9pm trains around earlier than 20:00 All other hours approximately All other Eve Metroshuttle – 1900hrs hours. locations 0800 – 1800 onwards Normal weekday Travelshops 1600 0830 – 1600. service. Friday 25/12/20 No service No service No service No service No service No Service All Closed All Closed Closed Closed Christmas Day

Free Bus – Sunday A Sunday service Saturday service. All closed All closed except Special service on will operate on the Trafford 0800 - 0800-2000 26/12/20 Metroshuttle – No No service No service No service Boxing Day but will except the 1600 hours limited routes service. Centre which is Boxing Day be strengthened in 0800 – 0000. hours capacity if needed Eccles, Hyde and Wythenshawe closed Trafford Centre 0800 – 2000. Sunday Altrincham 0930 Normal Sunday Normal Sunday Normal Sunday – 1700. Manchester 0800 - 0800-2000 27/12/20 Normal service tbc service, with some Normal Service 1600 hours service service. All other Airport 0800 – services starting later 1600. hours than normal Travelshops closed. All other locations 1000 – 1700.

Free Bus – Sunday Normal Monday Eccles, Hyde and 0800 - 0700-2000 Monday Some services service. tbc service Sunday service Wythenshawe 1600 hours 28/12/20 operating All Closed Metroshuttle – closed hours

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

TfGM’s BUS OPERATOR Customer FREE BUS AND TRAVELSHOP Digital DATE PROPOSALS LOCAL LINK RING AND RIDE RAIL METROLINK BUS STATIONS Contact Engagement METROSHUTTLE OPENING TIMES SUPPLIED TO DATE Centre Team (CCC) Sunday/Bank Normal Bank Trafford Centre Holiday service Holiday service. 0800 – 2000. Manchester Airport 0800 – 1600. All other locations 1000 – 1800.

Altrincham Eccles 0820 – Travelshop 0830 1620. – 1730. Trafford Centre All other 0800 – 0000. Normal Tuesday 0800 - 0700-2000 Tuesday Weekday or Normal weekday Travelshops Manchester Normal service tbc service Normal Service 1800 hours 29/12/20 Saturday service service 0830 – 1600. Airport 0800 – hours 1600. All other locations 0800 – 1800 Eccles 0820 – 1620. Altrincham Trafford Centre Travelshop 0830 0800 – 0000. – 1730. Manchester Wednesday Weekday or Normal weekday 0800 - 0700-2000 Normal service tbc Normal Service All other Airport 0800 – 30/12/20 Saturday service service. Normal Wednesday 1800 hours service Travelshops 1600. hours 0830 – 1600. All other locations 0800 – 1800

Weekday or Altrincham Normal Thursday Thursday Saturday service Travelshop 0830 Eccles 0820 – Normal service service with last 31/12/20 with early finish Normal weekday Normal weekday – 1730. 1600. 0800 - 0700-2000 with some services tbc trains around from service. service. 1600 hours New Year’s finishing at 2100 1900hrs All other Trafford Centre approximately hours Eve Travelshops 0800 – 0000. 1800 onwards 0830 – 1600.

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21

Altrincham 0910 Normal Friday Altrincham 0930 – 1710. service, with some Friday Free Bus – Sunday – 1700. Trafford Centre service. services starting later 01/01/21 0800 – 2000. than normal, notably All other No service Metroshuttle – No No service No service Sunday Service Closed Closed on WCML between Travelshops All other New Year’s service. Preston – Scotland closed. locations closed. Day due to engineering works

Eccles and Hyde 0820 – 1620. Altrincham Travelshop 0830 Trafford Centre Saturday – 1730. 0800 – 0000. 0800 - Normal service Normal Saturday Normal Saturday Manchester 0800-2000 02/01/21 Normal service tbc Normal Service All other 1800 resumes service service Airport 0800 – hours Travelshops hours 0830 – 1600. 1600. All other locations 0800 – 1800. Eccles, Hyde and Wythenshawe closed Altrincham 0930 Trafford Centre – 1700. 0800 – 2300. 0800 - 0800-2000 Sunday Normal Sunday Normal Sunday All other Manchester Normal service Normal Service 1800 hours 03/01/20 service service Travelshops Airport 0800 – closed. 1600. hours All other locations 1000 – 1700.

TfGM Winter Plan 2020/21