Packed commuters urged to mind the gap
New timetables and seat layouts will help commuters keep their distance without the government having to buy thousands of new public transport vehicles, Stephan Knoll says.
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New peak public transport timetables, staggered travel times into the city and encouraging people to walk or cycle to work are among official plans to manage social distancing as a consequence of coronavirus.
Today’s announcement came in the wake of heated debate about packed services.
The State Government today unveiled public transport measures to manage overcrowding, including a trial of the new morning and afternoon peak timetable.
But there will be fewer seats on train carriages, so commuters can spread out, specific exit and entry doors and masks will be optional.
There will also be no limit on passenger numbers as officials urged commuters not to travel if they are sick.
Demand on the busiest bus routes, such as the O-Bahn, will be monitored to move shift services to meet supply.
Trains will be also modified for 2x2 seating – from the current 3x3 – to widen aisles.
A taskforce with Adelaide City Council will investigate more cycling, parking and staggered travel times.
Other parking areas, such as throughout the Parklands, could be used as more people return to work.
More platform markings, updated signage and posters and new smartphone apps to provide commuters with better real-time information are to be introduced.
The overhaul, based on official advice from Australia’s top public health doctors, came after images of train commuters crammed into packed carriages emerged during reduced services along Adelaide’s rail network, attracting widespread criticisms of how authorities managed health risks.
Authorities will introduce peak period timetables for the busy Gawler line to help northern-suburbs’ commuters maintain physical distance.
The Government said the measures, to be introduced from next week, balanced resources with passenger use without having to introduce more vehicles or carriages.
Announcing the new safety plan after today’s national Cabinet, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the new Gawler line timetable would “provide more services across an extended peak period to increase capacity and give customers more options”.
He said allowing space to properly social distance at peak times would need 4000 extra buses, 100 more trams and 300 additional trains.
“If successful, we will extend these arrangements to other lines,” he said. “It is very clear when we move to a more open economy that looking at way we can stagger people’s public transport habits in and out of the city as a way we can help improve social distancing on public transport.”
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Mr Knoll said there was “not one simple answer”. He said: “It is going be a mixture of encourage more people to walk, more people to cycle, more people to use private vehicles, more people to work from home and for those who continue to use public transport to follow all of the advice around making sure they are well and … follow the direction around movement.”
The Government has already banned cash on networks, increased cleaning, fast-tracked installation of special driver screens and staggered Adelaide Railway station arrivals. Figures show patronage has plunged as fewer than one in three regular city commuters return to public transport.
Premier Steven Marshall said public transport was “an area of real concern, not just in Australia but right around the world”.
Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said last night the plan should have been made “weeks ago”.
“Instead, passengers were subjected to dangerous overcrowding because the Government didn’t have a plan,” he said, adding it should not be used to cut services.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said: “We’re certainly keen to play our part in ensuring public transport is as safe as possible and in encouraging more walking and cycling within the city.”