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Original poster

Public transport / crowded trains

48 replies

BunnytheBee · 05/03/2020 16:19

I commute by train every day. It is a relatively short journey (about 25 mins) but the trains can be quite crowded. There are usually full seats and people standing all the way down the carriage and in the areas where the doors are. Often, at each station, people jusy pile on.

Apart from the train journey, I don’t much mind coming into the office, and would prefer to work in the office than at home.

Does anyone else have this issue? Any tips! It wouldn’t be so bad if people did basic things like wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough (or stay at home if unwell?!) but many don’t seem to.

Help.

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helia · 05/03/2020 16:23

Following with interest - my commute is exactly the same as yours. I avoid touching my face, antibac my hands if I get a seat, and wash them when I get to work. I don't know what else I can do other than drastically change my working hours!

picklemewalnuts · 05/03/2020 16:43

If you have the opportunity to work from home, then you should imo. The fewer people on the trains, the harder for the virus to spread. I really feel we should see ourselves as dots on a board, goal is to spread the dots as far apart as possible.

Some people have no choice but to travel to work. Those that do have a choice can make everyone safe by staying home.

RoryGillmoresEvilTwin · 05/03/2020 17:16

I get 4 crowded busses a day and unless places are officially closed I'll have to continue doing this. It does make me think a bit and I'm being extra vigilant about hand washing.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 05/03/2020 17:17

My son travels to Waterloo by train and then 30 minutes on underground, he can't work from home, it worries me.

Original poster
BunnytheBee · 05/03/2020 19:08

Some days I need to be in the office and generally I get much more done in the office

Also we only have one PC etc currently so only one of us (me or DH) can work at home at one time

@helia I agree but as you say it would mean a drastic change to hours as I imagine the trains will be busy 7-9:30 and 4-6:30 ish

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Original poster
BunnytheBee · 05/03/2020 19:09

Journey home tonight was v crowded!

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RosettaR · 05/03/2020 19:20

My commute is similar! Has anyone else found the trains much emptier today? On the one hand that is good, as fewer people to catch it from, but it scares me to think that most people are already worried enough to stay home!

I can work from home pretty well but it relies on using a vpn, and apparently the vpn doesn't have the capacity to support large numbers of people home working.

MrsMigginsPie · 05/03/2020 19:23

Yes rosetta I thought the same. Commuting in London on the tube and on the train home at 5:30pm today and it was easy to get a seat - even spare seats! Definitely less busy.

Egghead68 · 05/03/2020 19:24

I wear gloves and a mask but I have an underlying condition.

custardbear · 05/03/2020 19:27

If you've and underlying problem with health I'd definitely avoid wherever possible
But I'm not an expert - just a scientist who thinks the less
People out there transmitting the better - it's out there, it's a lottery now

Original poster
BunnytheBee · 05/03/2020 22:48

I’d drive but have paid for an annual train pass and it costs loads to park in the city I work in, and petrol, plus it would take quite a bit longer to drive in.

Not sure what to do for the best tbh.

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Original poster
BunnytheBee · 06/03/2020 08:10

DH is wearing his mask today 😷

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Axlcat · 06/03/2020 08:28

Am working from home now due to underlying health condition and previous commute into London. DH however has to do train and tube to work which is making me anxious - have asked him to speak to his work today and see if they will let him work from home too. It’s just not worth putting yourself in the firing line.

Egghead68 · 06/03/2020 08:44

On public transport today (with gloves and two mask) and it’s a nightmare - people coughing everywhere. I’m going to try to take a taxi back (checking the driver is healthy first) even though it will be ££. That’s the last trip I do on public transport in the rush hour, till this is over at least.

Teabunny · 06/03/2020 08:48

I work for the Tube. I have caught lots of nasty germs from my customers, colleagues and from station infrastructure in the past. I am fairly robust, healthwise. It does concern Tube staff, this c-virus, as it's a very nasty one.

We haven't had clear guidance on what to do if we fall Ill because our sickness policy demands a GP note if we take more than seven days off. Useless, really, when we are being told not to visit the GP! I suppose we'd have to make a telephone appointment, and it sent by post?? Confused We have been told to wash hands regularly and use hand sanitiser which has been provided. But if someone sneezes on you (or spits on you during a physical assault...yes, this does happen...) then there's little defence. No face masks are being provided.

As far as I know, the trains and stations on the tube, whilst cleaned daily, are not cleaned deeply, so, standard, not against germs, especially. Luckily, I work in an open air station 🙏 but I worry about an outbreak in tunnel stations as the germs have no "escape route". Generally I'm not too concerned but if an outbreak occurred within the Tube family and a good proportion of us fell I'll, it would close stations and reduce train frequency, potentially.

Winterfellismyhome · 06/03/2020 09:03

Tube staff here too! We've had nothing from the company in the way of advice and no hand sanitizer despite the promise (at my station anyway) Very worried about this as we deal with thousands of people per day. It's a waiting game I guess

Lunafortheloveogod · 06/03/2020 09:10

This might only help in more rural places obviously but what about getting an earlier/later train/bus where possible? Locally there’s one that gets into town closer to 9 and it’s packed like a sardine can but the one that gets in half an hour earlier has between 10-15 people on a coach.. the bus before that has like 5 people if it’s lucky. Obviously childcare and sleep might make it a no.

BerryCatHolly · 06/03/2020 09:10

I use the tram in Manchester. It has been packed this week. No sign of anyone staying at home due to this virus. This morning I witnessed people coughing and sneezing into their hands and then touching the hand rails. It's amazing the public have such poor hygiene but transport for greater manchester should also be running announcements and putting up posters in my opinion and even looking to supply hand gel on the platforms.

I hate to say it but its also men that are the main culprits, none seem to carry a tissue so you hear them sniffing the whole journey and wiping their nose on their hands.

I personally am keeping my gloves on the whole journey and will be washing them and my coats this weekend. I wash my hands as soon as I get in the office or home.

Kuponut · 06/03/2020 09:44

I get a crowded train (which goes on to go into London just to add to the worry). I've switched up my journey times as much as I can - get the slower less packed train coming home (which avoids the London crowd as well) and get the earlier train to get into uni - where I usually am not at least rammed up next to people.

I'd done this anyway as the peak time intercity is fucking hellish.

On the other hand - if you want a bit of extra space all you need to do is cough and people back away!

Yogaca1 · 06/03/2020 11:56

I have a feeling of dread every time I have to get on public transport in London. Am trying to minimise it as much as possible. Am carrying around hand sanitizer. If someone starts coughing on the bus I move away or get off. I avoid crowded buses and would rather wait for the next one.

Original poster
BunnytheBee · 06/03/2020 12:31

I do feel for people on the tubes, supermarkets, generally in people facing roles and / or in confined areas, which do not allow them to work from home

Re hours I live in a semi rural area about 25 mins out of the city. I already get the train at 8 to be in work before 9 (a bit early). The train before that at around 7:45 is busier. Not sure how early I’d have to be. Could go after 9 maybe and then come back at 7ish. 6:20 train I usually get is packed on a night. But the. I’d struggle to get parking near the station for a train after 9...

I’m going to work from home 1.5 days next week and have 1.5 days annual leave booked so two days to navigate and might just drive.

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Sugarmirror · 06/03/2020 12:58

I’ve not found the London commute any less busy than usual. And seen no-one using a mask. Did have someone cough actually on me....dick

Original poster
BunnytheBee · 06/03/2020 13:44

No I haven’t found the trains less busy either

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HowlsMovingBungalow · 06/03/2020 13:48

My DP is a taxi driver, he is just cracking on with his job and continuing to cart sick people around to GP's and hospital appointments. Don't think customers would appreciate him wearing a facemask to protect himself from them Hmm.

Yogaca1 · 06/03/2020 16:34

I tried to avoid buses and tubes this morning in London so decided to walk instead through regents park only to see a small group of people probably a family all masked up. I have seen a few people all in all in London wearing masks and plenty coughing without them without covering their mouths on public transport.