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CIT0159 Written evidence submitted by Go-Ahead Group Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. We run bus companies across the country, from Plymouth to Newcastle, and a quarter of London’s buses for Transport for London (TfL). Go-Ahead operates a fleet of 5,200 buses, which carry more than two million passengers a day. We have also led the call for the creation of a National Bus Strategy to revitalise a mode of transport which provides two-thirds of all public transport journeys in the UK. The Government’s stated commitment to a National Bus Strategy and investing in 4,000 new electric buses is now even more vital, and should be part of a green recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic. Internationally, we provide bus services in Singapore and Ireland, and rail services in Germany and Norway. Go-Ahead is responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all UK rail journeys through its Govia Thameslink Railway and Southeastern franchises. We employ over 30,000 people. 1. Introduction 1.1. Go-Ahead welcomes the TSC inquiry into the impact of Covid 19 on transport. This response covers the measures we have taken to protect the health and wellbeing of our UK customers and colleagues, following guidance from local and national government and Public Health England, and with engagement with colleagues and union representatives. It then sets out the steps we believe Government should now take to build confidence in using public transport, enabling it to support economic recovery. 2. Measures taken to protect health and wellbeing of customers and colleagues Bus 2.1. In the initial phase of lockdown we reduced service levels to around 50% of normal levels. With passenger numbers falling to around 10% of normal levels, the initial funding package provided by the Government (£167m of new funding for 12 weeks), was necessary for services to be provided for key workers and essential journeys. 2.2. In reducing their timetables our companies liaised with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure essential needs were met For example, Brighton and Hove Buses added in extra early morning journeys to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in response to feedback, and Bluestar added in an extra journey on its route serving Southampton General Hospital. 2.3. Colleagues have been provided with additional protective equipment in line with government guidelines. We have implemented enhanced cleaning of vehicles and other workplaces, and have introduced social distancing measures with customers advised to enter and exit buses one at a time, and sit at least two metres apart. Customers are being encouraged to use contactless or mobile payments, which are available on all our services. 2.4. We have now increased service levels to provide a more comprehensive network, enabling people to return to work safely. The funding review process announced by DfT on 23 May is critical to ensuring the right level of resources are in place to provide communities with the bus services they need. 2.5. We have developed our apps and websites using artificial intelligence ‘When to Travel’ feature that shows customers seat availability on buses. With capacity constrained by social distancing requirements, this enables them to plan journeys to and from their destinations with confidence. Rail 2.6. Our rail companies, GTR and Southeastern are currently operating under revised franchise agreements following changes introduced by the DfT involving transferring all revenue and cost risk to the government. They have been supporting social distancing at stations through methods such as posters, monitor screens, stickers, floor markings and announcements to prompt passengers to maintain a 2m distance where feasible. Loading levels on train services 1 CIT0159 are being closely monitored. We're asking customers to avoid peak travel where possible and to buy tickets online or use smartcards - removing the need to buy at the station. 2.7. Passengers are being reminded of Government requirements to wear face coverings, and asked to maintain good hygiene, in line with government advice since the start of the pandemic. 3. Building confidence in using public transport 3.1. As the country slowly moves out of lockdown, public transport will have a vital role in getting people back to work and education, and enabling access to retail and services that are opening up. Pre-lockdown, buses were carrying 2.5million commuters to work, people who create economic outputs of £64 billion (Greener Journeys), and people were using buses to make shopping and leisure trips (estimated 1.4 billion a year) that contributed £27 billion.1 24% of households have no access to a car. 3.2. Encouraging people to drive will lead to increased congestion, air pollution and more accidents. Even while much of the economy and education remains closed, weekday car use has risen from 32% of normal levels (end of March) to 63% (June 8). Increased congestion also makes bus travel slower and less reliable and more expensive, creating a vicious cycle that drives more people onto car dependency or, for those who cannot afford it, the inability to travel and its associated benefits of work, social contact, education and leisure. 3.3. Public transport, in tandem with active travel, reduces car dependency. It would be tragic if we lost the lockdown benefits of improved air quality and quieter streets through a continued surge in private car use. A study by researchers at Harvard University found that air pollution is linked to significantly higher rates of death in people with Covid-19. Even a tiny, single-unit increase in particle pollution levels in the year before the pandemic is associated with an 8% increase in the death rate2. 3.4. Presenting a negative message about public transport could lead to deep seated views that are hard to shift. Research from Transport Focus found that 41% of the travelling public won’t return to the railway until they feel safe. 3.5. Drawing upon best practice from countries like France and Germany, communication around using public transport should focus on encouraging people to avoid the peak and plan their journeys. Businesses can play their part by enabling employees to stagger arrival/departure times, and Government should do more to encourage this. Education centres could also do the same which would help working parents to stagger their journeys. 3.6. We welcome the Government’s review of the current 2m social distancing requirement. Many other European countries have a 1m requirement (1.5m in the case of Germany). The current requirement severely curtails the capacity of public transport, making it highly subsidy dependent and restricting its ability to support the gradual opening up of various sectors in the economy. 3.7. Easing away from a social distancing requirement of 2m to one of 1m could perform a vital step in enabling public transport use and building customer confidence. Specifically for buses, the requirement could be based on the initial DfT guidance in place at the start of lockdown that 50% of seating capacity could be used (i.e. one seat could be used in every pair). 3.8. This would be supported by a continued emphasis on requiring customers to wear face coverings, and reminders of the additional cleaning and hygiene measures being taken to enable people to travel safely. June 2020 1 Greener Journeys, Value of the Bus to Society report, 2016. URL: https://greenerjourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Value- of-the-Bus-to-Society-FINAL.pdf 2 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.05.20054502v2 2.