Commuters shared photos of busy London Underground services again this morning despite the coronavirus lockdown.
Only key workers and those who are unable to work at home are meant to use the Tube, leading to millions staying away. But cuts to services has seen some people squeezed into confined carriages, further risking the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
Angry commuters today called the situation ‘ridiculous’ and a ‘mess’ as they shared pictures of crowded platforms and trains with travellers standing just inches away from each other in tweets to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
It came as the number of UK coronavirus deaths reached 5,373, with 51,608 confirmed cases, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in intensive care after being admitted overnight.
Angry commuters today called the situation ‘ridiculous’ and a ‘mess’ as they shared pictures of crowded platforms and trains with travellers standing just inches away from each other
One Central Line commuter wrote on Twitter: ‘Another day, another mess up at Leytonstone. Social distancing impossible.
‘The lack of a service is causing too many people on a platform/tube carriage (approx 100 this morning). Do your bit for the country and fix this.’
Another Tube user also raged at the situation, tweeting: ‘Why isn’t enough being done… this is ridiculous.’
Mr Khan has been criticised for running a dramatically reduced Underground service, effectively forcing commuters to cram in together.
Yesterday, he revealed that ten public transport workers in London have died of coronavirus amid a growing row over the lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) for drivers.
Mr Khan said the workers, eight of whom were bus drivers, died in the last few days.
He told Sky News: ‘They are in my thoughts and prayers, and my condolences to their families. It reminds us actually, one of the heroic frontline workers are transport workers.’
Transport bosses are furious with Transport for London (TfL) for refusing to provide drivers with protective equipment, including gloves and masks.
One Central Line commuter wrote on Twitter: ‘Another day, another mess up at Leytonstone. Social distancing impossible
Unions Unite and Aslef have said public transport workers are risking their own safety to provide a service for essential workers.
Aslef official Finn Brennan said: ‘Every day brings fresh news of friends, family members and colleagues being struck down by this terrible virus.
‘Unlike politicians and managers, frontline transport staff cannot work from home. Everything possible must be done to protect their safety.
‘Tube drivers and other TfL staff are risking their own health and that of their families by leaving home to provide transport for vital staff.
‘By refusing to close non-essential workplaces, the Government is endangering their safety and that of other key workers who rely on public transport.”
Similar concerns have been raised by London’s bus drivers.
Over the weekend, a bus driver called James told Sky News: ‘Buses not being deep cleaned, we can see they aren’t even being touched.
‘Drivers are not being given masks or even gloves now because we are being told to wash our hands multiple times throughout the day which would be great but since all the shops are shut a massive majority of us don’t even have toilets or sinks to wash our hands.’
Sadiq Khan has hit out at commuters who are refusing to stay at home following the deaths of five London bus workers who tested positive for Covid-19
Mr Khan said he has been lobbying government ‘almost on a daily basis’ to get PPE for transport workers.
It comes after Mr Khan blamed commuters for packing public transport rather than ramp up services across the capital.
He said last week ‘too many people are not staying at home’ and again insisted they could not run any more services as he admitted only around half of all trains are now going during rush hour.
There are waits of up to 20 minutes between trains when usually it would be three to five minutes, leading to more busy carriages and platforms packed with key workers with no choice but to go to work.
Mr Khan told Good Morning Britain last Wednesday: ‘Transport for London staff are working their socks off. 30 per cent are self isolating or have symptoms. We are providing max services we can – of the 13 lines on TFL – all but two are working’.
He added: ‘There is a concern that still too many people who really, really should not be going to work are using public transport during the rush hour and the key message is unless you really have to get to work, work from home, and if you do have to go into work, please avoid the rush hour.’
