SCC19R-R-0501 D Ms Aileen Fallon Clerk to the Committee Special Committee on Covid-19 Response Leinster House Dublin 2 D02 XR20 July 7th, 2020 Your ref: SCC19R-I-0374 Dear Ms Fallon, Thank you for the invitation to make another submission to the Oireachtas Special Committee on COVID-19 Response. The topic this time being, the impact of COVID-19 on public transport services. Transdev Dublin Light Rail limited is contracted to operate and maintain Luas, Dublin’s light rail network. The network consists of two tram lines, the Red Line which travels from west Dublin, Tallaght / Saggart to the east – The Point stop and the Green Line which travels from Brides Glen on the southside to Broombridge on the northside. The network totals 42km with 67 stops, and last year the total number of passenger journeys made on Luas was 48m +. We have approximately 600 staff in Dublin who have kept the Luas operating at a full timetable throughout the COVID-19 restrictions to ensure essential workers can travel to and from work. Since restrictions started however over 16 weeks ago, we have seen passenger numbers fall sharply. As an operator and global integrator of mobility, we know transport is severely impacted across all our operations. We operate in 17 different countries, 17 modes of transportation serving communities, businesses, and the general public. By being part of an international group, we have mobilised for Luas all the resources available to us to assist us with our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Dublin we are working with the National Transport Authority, our client Transport Infrastructure Ireland and all public transport operators to ensure we get back on track. Best regards, Seamus Egan Managing Director Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd. Luas Depot, Red Cow, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 C5P3 Tel: (+353) 1 461 4910 Fax: (+353) 1 461 4992 Registered Office: Riverside One, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Registered in Ireland No. 354252 Email: [email protected] Website: www.transdevireland.ie Chairman: Christian Schreyer Directors: Seamus Egan (Managing Director), David Horgan, Louis Rambaud, Mary Morrell SCC19R-R-0501 D Dublin Transport Light Rail Limited. Chairperson and members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to make this submission. I understand that the Committee wishes to focus upon the current situation pertaining to the impact of Covid-19 on public transport services – in this case Luas. As operator and maintainer of Luas we have experienced a variety of circumstances regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on our service. For most of the last 16 weeks demand has been running at 90% less than the same period last year. Social distancing measures are still in force and as of Monday June 29th, the start of Phase 3 of the Roadmap to Reopening. Face coverings have become mandatory on all public transport services. Luas service levels have remained unchanged throughout, which means we operated and continue to operate at an optimal level. However, during this time, we have been impacted in different ways: To reference a number of these impacts as requested. • Impact of Covid-19 on staffing Throughout this crisis, Transdev and its staff have been closely following the public health advice. In light of this guidance we have lost 2,037 workdays/shifts directly due to COVID- 19 (to 6th July 2020). In relation to the impact of Covid-19 on staff - under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 Transdev Dublin Light Rail (TDLR) has a duty of care to all staff in the workplace. To this end all Luas depots apply social distancing measures and all teams are following the health guidance as provided by the government and HSE. One aspect of Luas operations, different to those of other operators, is the open barrier system and the manner in which tickets are checked. Ticket checks are carried out by Customer Assurance Officers. (Customer Agents/ Ticket Inspectors) They along with Security Officers are the most front facing of all Luas staff grades. TDLR has been conducting numerous risk assessments throughout the pandemic and noted in earlier times that the nature of this work poses an occupational exposure health risk to Covid-19 to our Customer Assurance Officers and Security Officers dealing with non-conforming, and sometimes malevolent members of society. Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd. Luas Depot, Red Cow, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 C5P3 Tel: (+353) 1 461 4910 Fax: (+353) 1 461 4992 Registered Office: Riverside One, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Registered in Ireland No. 354252 Email: [email protected] Website: www.transdevireland.ie Chairman: Christian Schreyer Directors: Seamus Egan (Managing Director), David Horgan, Louis Rambaud, Mary Morrell SCC19R-R-0501 D In relation to those earlier risk assessments, it is worth noting that at the time of undertaking these assessments, the clear message to all staff in TDLR, from the Governmental health advice, was to maintain 2m distance. It should also be noted that in the governments “Covid-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers” under the heading physical distancing – the following was to be considered. In settings where 2 metre worker separation could not be ensured by organisational means, alternative protective measures should be put in place, for example: ➢ Maintain at least a distance of 1 metre or as much distance as is reasonably practicable. ➢ Minimise any direct worker contact and provide hand washing facilities and other hand hygiene aids, such as hand sanitisers, wipes etc. that are readily accessible so workers can perform hand hygiene as soon as the work task is complete. ➢ Make face masks available to the workers in line with Public Health advice. This was all adhered too. With the introduction of Phase 3 from Monday June 29th, 2020 and the increase in capacity from 20% to 50%, including the mandatory requirement for passengers to wear face coverings, further risk assessments are currently being carried out. TDLR has again been given the task of reintroducing full ticket checking by these staff on the Luas network. The latest risk assessment shall also take into consideration the increase in capacity from 20% to 50% on board the trams: It was agreed that the two main areas to assess would be: 1) The risk to staff with an increase of passengers from 20% to 50% capacity on trams 2) The risk to staff where 50% capacity is breached on trams Continuous monitoring of the pandemic continues to be undertaken in conjunction with guidance from the government, Department of Health and in accordance with all TDLR Covid-19 documentation. Approved codes of practice are always being adhered too. Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd. Luas Depot, Red Cow, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 C5P3 Tel: (+353) 1 461 4910 Fax: (+353) 1 461 4992 Registered Office: Riverside One, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Registered in Ireland No. 354252 Email: [email protected] Website: www.transdevireland.ie Chairman: Christian Schreyer Directors: Seamus Egan (Managing Director), David Horgan, Louis Rambaud, Mary Morrell SCC19R-R-0501 D • Impact of COVID-19 on revenue to date The National Transport Authority have advised operators that the overall impact on Revenue is as follows: The passenger numbers and the associated revenue for public transport fares is recorded 13 periods of 4 weeks. The latest information available to the National Transport Authority is up to Period 5 which ended on 19th May 2015. Up to that date fare revenue has dropped by 38% compared to the same date last year. Since that date the restrictions have been eased and it is hoped that the later periods will see an increase in passenger fare revenue however it will still be very significantly lower than 2019 levels. • Impact of COVID-19 on forecasted revenue The National Transport Authority have advised us of the following: Forecasting the passenger revenue until the end of the year is very challenging as there are so many unknowns as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic. Transport patterns have been completely altered as working patterns have changed. A large proportion of office workers continue to work at home. The evidence shows that while some office workers are accessing their places of employment, they are walking, cycling, or transferring to their private car for their journey instead of using public transport. Car journeys in Dublin city centre are recovering a lot faster than public transport journeys; car traffic at the canal cordon is at 80% of pre-Covid levels whereas public transport levels are at just over 30% of their pre-Covid levels. The number of people that will return to public transport once their places of employment or education are opened fully is not yet clear. Nor is it clear, just how many will continue to work from home, either fully or partially. Looking at a range of scenarios the Authority estimates that fare revenue could fall by between 50 – 60% by year end compared to last year. • Impact of COVID-19 on rail infrastructure/bus infrastructure investments in 2020/2021- status? The National Transport Authority have advised us of the following: Projects at the design phase continued on a remote working basis. Construction projects did experience a short delay during the period of closure of construction sites but are now Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd. Luas Depot, Red Cow, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 C5P3 Tel: (+353) 1 461 4910 Fax: (+353) 1 461 4992 Registered Office: Riverside One, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Registered in Ireland No. 354252 Email: [email protected] Website: www.transdevireland.ie Chairman: Christian Schreyer Directors: Seamus Egan (Managing Director), David Horgan, Louis Rambaud, Mary Morrell SCC19R-R-0501 D back in full operation.