Issue 71 ON THE MOVE March 2021 PENSIONERS’ EDITION LT CENTENARIAN DOREEN BEATS COVID-19 retired London Doreen survived the I transferred into the A Transport Spanish Flu pandemic of Accounts office.” accountant 1918 as an infant, and served Doreen (picture right) has made a miraculous in the Women’s Auxiliary retired from LT in the 1970s, recovery from COVID-19 Air Force during the Second but continued holidaying at the age of 104. World War (below, right). with Maureen into her 90s. Doreen Smith tested After demobilisation, she Now deaf and suffering positive for the virus at joined LT’s Special Duties from dementia, she moved her care home in Seaford, section at 55 Broadway, into a nursing home five Sussex, in mid-December. moving on to the Rents years ago. But according to long- Received and Capital “I haven’t seen her for time friend Maureen sections, where she met about a year, and can’t Ellwood, a second test in Maureen in 1953. contact her in any way,” late January confirmed “I worked with her said Maureen. “It’s killing Doreen had beaten the for two years, and we me, really. disease without hospital became great friends,” said “She looked right through treatment. Maureen. “However, as me the last time I went “She will be 105 on we couldn’t go on holiday there, but she seems 25 March, so it’s truly together while working happy. She has been a amazing,” said Maureen. on the same section, wonderful friend.” FACING THE NUMBERS HEAVY LIFTERS ore than 136,000 Officers have been issuing rack work on the London M people have been Fixed Penalty Notices to T Underground is being made safer stopped from people who refuse to comply and more efficient thanks to a pair boarding TfL services before with the law. of powerful new cranes. putting on a face covering. Police have also been carrying The Kirow cranes can be transported Enforcement officers have out similar work, talking to through Tube tunnels and are designed so been carrying out targeted people without face coverings. their booms – the lifting arms – can work operations across all modes The figures quoted do not while parallel to the ground. This means they to ensure customers are include police enforcement. can lift in the Underground’s tight spaces. complying with the law. The cranes are complemented by eight new From 14 July 2020 to 7 tilting wagons – the first of their kind to run February 2021, 136,658 people on the network – which can transport whole were stopped before boarding sections of pre-fabricated track up to 18 and asked to put on a mask, metres in length. with most complying. Over the same period, 9,759 people were prevented from boarding, 2,106 have been ejected from services and 2,079 fines have been handed out. otm PENSIONER NEWS otm PENSIONER NEWS TALKING SHOP Vacant space in bus termini and Overground stations set to become profitable retail outlets mpty units and unused The programme aims to generate are being chosen carefully to ensure E spaces on concourses across extra revenue for the company while they don’t interfere with operational the network are about to boosting the customer experience. safety or passenger movements, and be transformed to host new shops Retail Development Manager Paul do not block evacuation routes or under innovative plans to boost Street is overseeing the scheme for CCTV camera sightlines. TfL’s coffers. London Overground and buses. Service Delivery Manager, Bus The Station Retail team is leading He said: “There are different Operations Andy Calder said: “We’ve the programme to make the most of types of retail we’re looking to reviewed 26 bus stations to see potential space across the estate. implement, depending on the what’s suitable at each location, Pre-fabricated kiosks and indoor location and the space. By and large, basically asking ourselves ‘what and outdoor retail carts will soon be these are currently empty spaces, would fit there?’” trading at stations, including those on or something we make empty by He’s already found perfect spots at the Elizabeth line and at bus terminals. moving street furniture around.” Aldgate, Canning Town, Edgware and Buildings will also be repurposed to Locations for the new units, which Stratford bus stations, where trading make way for new shops. will primarily sell food and drink, is expected to start by the summer. line routes to the extension. They then ran up to the SUPPORTING ROUGH new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station, SLEEPERS SAFELY before turning around using a crossover junction to make ough sleeping in the Capital is the return leg. R sadly on the rise – and when the The test runs marked the temperature dips, TfL’s networks can completion of a number of see an increase in homeless and vulnerable complex milestones including people seeking warmth and refuge. TESTING, switching on a permanent Supporting colleagues in managing this rise electricity supply to the new remains a priority while making sure rough stations and successfully sleepers are directed to the right help. TESTING commissioning the latest Colleagues across all modes are being edition of signalling software. encouraged to report persistent or he extension of Works are scheduled to aggressive rough sleepers, so outreach T the Underground’s finish in the autumn. The team teams can collect information to help them. Northern line passed is now focusing on upgrading TfL works with support services to help a major milestone when signal software and fitting out vulnerable people and collaborates with the a test passenger train the new stations. Metropolitan and British Transport Police to completed a return journey Director of Major Projects escalate cases where needed. between Kennington and Stuart Harvey said: “Seeing Reports from colleagues have recently Battersea Power Station. a train travelling through the helped a number of rough sleepers at Trains entered the extension for the first time is Walthamstow bus station, including a woman new 3.2km tunnels and a really significant milestone being housed by a local council and a man travelled through a recently and demonstrates the being provided with accommodation. Neither constructed junction that commitment of our brilliant have been seen sleeping at the station since. connects existing Northern team.” 2 otm PENSIONER NEWS know [I took part in the trial] and then centres are set to remain in place CALL TO ARMS they’ll ‘unblind’ me.” throughout March. Like Jane, Helen also doesn’t know Area Manager Mike Guy said: “We’re Colleagues share vaccine trial if she’s received a vaccine, but hopes focusing on operational colleagues stories while testing centres the American-developed Novavax and are keen to have as many taking open for frontline teams shot will soon join the roster of part as we can accommodate.” approved jabs. pair of Underground Helen (below, right) got her jabs in A colleagues have spoken November. She said: “I’m very pleased about being part of medical to take part, three vaccines have history, after volunteering for already been approved and that could COVID-19 vaccine trials. only happen because people put Area Manager Jane Black trialled themselves forward.” the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, while Senior Assurance Engineer REASSURANCE Helen Carrington joined the Novavax Since December, TfL has been testing programme. hundreds of frontline colleagues for Jane (pictured right, top) had her first COVID-19 – giving them peace of mind jab in June, and her second four weeks that they’re safe at work. later. Because it’s a ‘blind study’ Jane We launched antigen testing centres doesn’t know whether she received at King’s Cross, Pier Walk and Palestra, the vaccine, or a meningitis jab. in partnership with the Department She explained: “They don’t tell you for Health and Social Care. which because they don’t want you to They offer tests to people without change your behaviour. If I’m offered symptoms, with results sent to the Oxford vaccine I have to let them individuals within an hour. The people see the camera, they CAMERAS ARE automatically think they’re being ON THE MAP recorded and most times they just WELCOMED ON turn around and walk away.” hameslink services have THE FRONTLINE Wearing a camera is voluntary T been added to the Tube for bus station controllers and map for the first time ublic-facing colleagues LU stations colleagues, but for since 1999 to give customers P across the Surface Transport enforcement teams in Compliance, more options for travel as we and LU networks are Policing, Operations and Security continue to live with COVID-19. noticing a reduction in aggressive (CPOS), wearing it comes with the The TfL Go app, pocket maps behaviour since they started using uniform and the role. and diagrams on the TfL website body worn video cameras. CPOS Operations Officer have all been updated to show The devices give team members Adrian Rideout said: “I know from Thameslink services through the chance to record evidence of experience how good they are Zones 1 to 6, as well as to violence and aggression towards and how people’s perceptions and Dartford and Swanley. them, such as abuse, threatening behaviour can change when they see This is primarily to spread the behaviour or physical assaults. a camera. passenger load on trains and aid Bus Station Controller “Courts like camera evidence social distancing. Ramiz Raza (right) because it’s not just one person’s It is also hoped that welcomed them, having word against another’s. With highlighting extra lines and been verbally abused by recorded footage, you can see alternative routes using all a customer at Finsbury and hear what happened.” available modes will encourage Park last year.