Extra staff blitz peak commuter hot spots to protect travellers

Hundreds of extra staff will blitz commuter hot spots from Monday to enforce social distancing rules as the state government prepares for an influx of workers and school students using public transport. SEE THE STATIONS TARGETED

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Security at public transport hot spots will be bolstered from Monday to enforce social distancing as school resumes and more workers head back to the office.

Hundreds of extra transport staff, including security and marshalling officers, will be placed across NSW at busy interchanges and train stations to keep passengers moving and safe and ease pressure on drivers and frontline workers.

Motorists have also been warned by NSW Transport and Road Minister Andrew Constance to be “hyper-vigilant” around schools with more “kids in and around cars”.

Mr Constance said with the transport network expected to come under “enormous strain” from tomorrow, new Marshalling Response and Support Teams will help by monitoring physical distancing and managing crowds.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Picture: James Gourley

“This could mean forming lines at bus stops or limiting the amount of people who can enter onto a platform,” he said.

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“Having those eyes there and guidance for people to be protected is what this is all about.

“We’re not putting them there because people are engaging in bad behaviour – we’re putting them there to try and maintain the 1.5 metres around people and be there as a reminder for everyone.”

Mr Constance said 20 teams will initially be rolled out at key interchanges and transport hubs in Sydney Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains.

“We are using data to identify key interchanges where these teams will be deployed including Wynyard, Blacktown, Hurstville and Chatswood,” he said.

The state government unveiled the coronavirus transport plan last Monday which includes using green dots to show commuters where to stand and sit.

Buses will be limited to carrying 12 commuters with 32 people allowed in a train carriage.

Mr Constance said the majority of commuters were “excellent” and understood the current constraints.

Transport for NSW COVID Taskforce Incident Management Team leader Karen McCarthy inside the COVID-19 Transport Control Centre. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Most people get it which is why we said don’t travel in peak hour and use your motor vehicle where you can and let’s just go through the next phase of the pandemic very cautiously so that transport does not become the catalyst for community transmission,” he said.

“If everyone calms the farm and keeps a cool head, there’s no reason why this can’t work.”

The staffing boost comes as The Sunday Telegraph was given the first-look inside the state’s COVID transport control centre which monitors patronage on every bus, train, ferry, metro and light rail.

The new system also tracks traffic on roads and the location of cleaning crews.

Transport for NSW COVID Taskforce Incident Management Team leader Karen McCarthy said: “This brings it altogether as one pictures and is also statewide.

COVID-19 advice signage is seen on the ticket gates at Central station in Sydney. Picture: Mark Kolbe

“It allows us to prioritise resources and to focus on keeping the network safe for the community, but also safe for our frontline staff.”

Mr Constance said school students won’t be turned away from any public transport “even if this means physical distancing won’t always be possible”.

“I’ve sent a very clear message to operators in the past week that children are to be prioritised – we’ve got to prioritise their safety and we don’t want to see a child isolated anywhere on the transport network,” he said.

“I think most adults appreciate and respect that – I know parents do.”

Originally published as Extra staff blitz peak commuter hot spots to protect travellers