Commissioner’s report 3 February 2021 1 Introduction 3 2 Safety and security 4 3 Restart and recovery 13 4 Improving transport and generating growth 18 5 Healthy Streets 26 6 Crossrail 39 7 Finance 40 Commissioner’s report 2 This paper will be considered in public 1 Introduction This report provides a review of major I am also working with the Mayor of issues and developments since the Board London and key Government officials to meeting on 9 December. prioritise transport workers in London for the vaccine against coronavirus. My staff Unfortunately, since my last update there have worked tirelessly throughout the has been a significant rise in coronavirus pandemic to support the Capital, and I cases and, sadly, many more deaths owe it to them to ensure that I do across London and the UK. I am deeply everything I can to keep them safe while saddened that 67 of our colleagues have doing their job. now tragically passed away due to coronavirus. Their families and loved ones We also continue to work with our remain in our thoughts and we remain policing partners to enforce the use of committed to offering them all the face coverings on our network, and play support they need during this incredibly our part in keeping the network safe. difficult time. On 15 January, we published our Financial As a result of the latest lockdown Sustainability Plan which sets out how measures that came into effect on 6 our finances can be placed on a January, we have changed and stepped up sustainable footing following the our customer messaging to remind catastrophic impact of the pandemic. It is people that they must only travel for also the starting point for discussions essential journeys, remain local, consider with the Department for Transport (DfT) reducing the number of journeys they on what financial support we will require need to make and walk or cycle where over the coming years. In addition, the possible. plan makes clear how we can contribute to wider Mayoral and Government I understand these are unsettling times objectives around a green recovery, for many people, and I want to reassure accelerating the decarbonisation agenda, customers who need to access our improving air quality and supporting an services that we continue to do extensive supply chain across the country. everything we can to operate as many As Commissioner, my priority is to steer services as possible and ensure our this organisation through the pandemic network remains safe. Over the last four and to secure our long-term financial months, experts from Imperial College future. My team and I remain committed London have been independently testing to reaching a mutually agreeable deal our Tube and bus network for coronavirus with the Government, which benefits not on a monthly basis. To date, every test only London but the entire UK. has come back negative, showing that our extensive cleaning regime is working and helping to keep the network safe for those who need it most. Commissioner’s Report 3 2 Safety and security Deaths in service more vulnerable employees and enable We are doing everything we can to them to return to work, where possible. support the families of the 67 colleagues who have died from coronavirus, and will In line with the latest Government advice, continue to do so. Our Employee Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Assistance Programme is available to all employees are not expected to come to employees and their dependents and work and, if they cannot work from home, provides support, guidance and they should not work. information on a range of topics, including bereavement. The programme also gives We will, of course, continue to review this access to support from a qualified and follow Government advice to ensure counsellor via a 24/7 telephone service. our most vulnerable people are Bereavement support is also extended to protected. families of the deceased via our Sarah Hope Line. COVID-19 vaccine Phase one of the vaccination programme Research into bus driver deaths due to aims to reduce mortality rates and COVID-19 support the country’s health and social Phase two of the research, which is being care systems. The vaccine is being offered undertaken by University College London, first to vulnerable groups, such as older is still under way. The bus driver survey people, and those in the Clinically has now closed, with almost 4,000 Extremely Vulnerable group, and frontline surveys completed. The findings of this health and social care workers. research phase are expected to be published in early spring 2021. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has asked the Department Vulnerable colleague risk assessments of Health and Social Care to consider A working group was set up at the occupational prioritisation in the next beginning of the pandemic to address the phase of vaccination, for those whose job effects on colleagues more at risk from puts them at increased risk of exposure to coronavirus. We continue to put the virus – this would include transport contingencies in place to protect these workers. vulnerable groups, and are offering support to the individuals affected and Rapid COVID-19 testing pilot their line managers in making informed On 2 December, we started a pilot of decisions critical to their health, safety rapid COVID-19 testing of volunteer and wellbeing. employees in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care. We By 13 January, our Occupational Health opened three sites across our network to and Wellbeing team had received more carry out this testing, two in King’s Cross than 2,700 COVID-Age risk self- Underground station (in the employee assessments. This helps us identify our training area and the visitors centre) and a third at Pier Walk in North Greenwich. Commissioner’s Report 4 We continue to enforce the wearing of face coverings on our services with our policing partners The rapid tests use lateral flow Face covering enforcement on the technology and provide results within 30 network minutes. This work will help to reduce risk Our Transport and Support Enforcement of transmission in the workplace and is (TSE) officers continue to enforce the being used in conjunction with more mandatory wearing of face coverings on general Public Health England and all public transport modes, except for Government advice such as ‘hands, face, passengers with a valid exemption, using space’, and enhanced cleaning across our powers under the Health Protection network and buildings. (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations As of 22 January, a total of 1,854 tests 2020. This work is being led by the have been undertaken with 28 employees Compliance, Policing and On-Street testing positive for coronavirus. Services (CPOS) team, with support from our policing partners. Imperial College London sampling Scientists from Imperial College London In preparation for the festive period, we have continued to periodically sample our brought in additional TSE officers and Tube and bus network for traces of policing resources to help with coronavirus. For the fourth month in a enforcement at the busiest times across row, none of the air and surface samples the network. Deployments have taken have revealed any traces of the virus in place across our buses, Tram, London detectable quantities on the network. Overground, Dockland Light Railway (DLR) Further testing aims to extend the scope and London Underground (LU) services. of the testing on customer-facing parts of the network and include staff-only areas. Passenger compliance remains very high in general, particularly during peak travel Commissioner’s report 5 times. Customer research findings show as well as other networks across the that 90 per cent of customers say they are country. We have made significant wearing a face covering at all times while progress to implement these using our transport services, six per cent recommendations by working closely are wearing it on some journeys, and four with all parties concerned, including the per cent are not wearing a face covering at RAIB, Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Light all. Of those not wearing a face covering Rail Safety and Standards Board, and the at all while using public transport or just wider UK tram industry. on some journeys, around three quarters claim to have an exemption or valid All recommendations have now been reason for not complying. actioned and implemented following the recent fitting and introduction of the new Up until 25 January 2021, we have engaged Physical Prevention of Over Speeding with 134,085 passengers, 9,618 have been system on all 35 trams. This system will refused travel and we have issued 1,902 automatically apply the brakes and bring a Fixed Penalty Notices. A total of 738 of moving tram to a controlled stop if it these have been paid within 14 days (at a exceeds the speed limit at designated charge of £100) and 27 were paid within 28 locations. days (at a charge of £200). Where these remain unpaid, we continue to prosecute Following the announcement of the most the offender, where appropriate. recent national lockdown, the Sandilands inquests are currently adjourned although On 7 December, 50 cases were listed in the Senior Coroner has relisted them to court, with seven defendants pleading commence on 17 May 2021. A pre-inquest guilty to the offence of not wearing a face review hearing is taking place on 28 covering, resulting in fines ranging from January 2021, with a further pre-inquest £0 (Conditional Discharge) to £276 review hearing to take place towards the (amount dependent on the individuals’ end of March. circumstances, which the court needs to take into consideration).