Do people really believe thousands of people ran to the station without a pre-booked ticket yesterday as soon as they heard about the new restrictions?

[Tellmetruth4]

Just that really. I keep seeing pictures on the news of busy London train stations yesterday. Does anyone truly believe that after hearing the news at 4pm, people managed to pack all of their stuff, turn up to the station without a ticket and find accommodation on the last Saturday before Christmas? Or do they think the people at the train station booked it some time ago to leave and stay with family after finishing work on Friday?

YABU - Yes they ‘fled’ when they heard the news
YANBU- No they’d booked trains when they thought households were allowed to mix and the news and government are trying to make it look like these people on trains yesterday were trying to get around the new rules.

You can buy a ticket at the station? And isn’t that what most people do?

People may have had plans to go on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday but decided to leave last night as if they didn’t they wouldn’t be allowed to (in reality how many people will be stopped at the station and asked where they’re going?)

Of course...I mean, that’s what the newspapers and social media told us, so it must be true

Or do they think the people at the train station booked it some time ago to leave and stay with family after finishing work on Friday?

Do most people usually finish work a week before Christmas then?

Well considering people in London shouldn't have been travelling until the "window" started on 23rd, I'd say yes.

It's definitely not so that the government can blame this travel on the spread of the disease instead of their own staggering failures. Definitely not that.

We had several people booked for Monday to Thursday arrivals who contacted us in the few hours after yesterday's announcement asking if they could arrive last night or in the early hours of this morning.

The motorway going north was certainly very busy last night. Less so, but still busy for a Saturday night, going south.

Why were so many allowed on to the trains? Why was it not pre-booked tickets only?

I’d say it was people who had planned to go later in the week but decided to get out while they could. Most of the people travelling looked like they were in their 20’s so were probably heading back to their family homes to avoid spending Christmas in their flat share.

Whichever of your options, they shouldn't have been doing it on that day.

People will do what people do, the government should have planned ahead for this and given a shorter deadline (i.e., "with immediate effect...").

Yes Tellme, it's not belief, it's fact. Many HAVE responded to the midnight lockdown and HAVE made last minute travel plans. What makes you think they haven't?

Yes as any pre arranged travel for Christmas only applied from 23rd.

If you think all of the people in those crowds were travelling because they were following long-held plans then you are spectacularly naive.

When large parts of Northern England first went into tier 3 I remember reading comments on here about selfish Northerners spreading it around, stupid Northerners not sticking to the rules, and bitter Northerners whinging about the consequences of such.

@ABitOdd most office workers take 2 weeks annual leave and finished last week

All goes to show you can't argue with stupid.

A lot of people work monday - Friday and stay over for that so they would be hoping home as usual then.

I'm also getting sick of them being referred to as "Londoners" on SM and in the media. If they are able to flee to elsewhere, they aren't Londoners, as by definition they are returning to what they consider home.

Actual Londoners, the ones that grew up here, and their whole families still live in London are still here as we have nowhere else to go. So it's not "Londoners" being selfish and spreading it, it's northerners returning home - and a very few rich wankers escaping to second homes. Either way, not true Londoners!

I would imagine it was people who were planning to travel to family later in the week who decided to make the move while they could . Particularly if it was young people going back to their family home .

Bear in mind that a lot of people who would have been planning to work from the 21st to 23rd/24th (eg non-essential retail workers) found out at 4pm yesterday that they wouldn’t be.

Agree with the 20-somethings. My brother is a student, was planning on leaving tomorrow back to his household. Left last night instead so had to grab everything very quickly. Doesn't drive so was worried about getting stuck even though he should be allowed to go to his main address.

Do most people usually finish work a week before Christmas then?

A lot of companies have given their employees longer time off this Christmas because there won't be much happening this week. My company has.

Also, many students have stayed in their university accommodation until the end of term. My daughter and her housemates have done so. I picked her up after her last seminar (online) on Friday (not from London or a tier 4 area)

And yes, the rest might just be taking the proverbial.

Do most people usually finish work a week before Christmas then?
May be they are ' working from (someone's) home?