Drop in numbers likely on public transport

City transport authorities and operators could face a 20% decline in public transport usage after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, suggests a survey conducted by SYSTRA.

Passengers surveyed said they would avoid journeys unless health concerns are taken seriously, and commuters change their working travel habits.

Key findings from the survey, which covered 1,500 adults in the UK between April 8-14, are that 49% of those expecting to reduce their use of public transport will do so because of concerns about getting ill, 24% said they will work from home more, and 14% said they have found another way of making their journey.

Some 17% of full and part-time workers believe they will work from home far more once COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted, while 67% believe virtual meetings will replace some or all business trips or meetings.

SYSTRA Business Development Director Chris Pownall said: “When we go ‘back to normal’ we won’t go back to the old normal. Instead, we’ll enter a ‘new normal’ where many people realise that they have more choice about where they work, how they get to work, and how they conduct their day-to-day business.”

• For the FULL story regarding the railway's ongoing response to the COVID-19 situation, read RAIL 904, published on May 6, and available digitally from May 2.