Labour has called on the Government to suspend peak fares
and provide mass coronavirus testing for transport
workers over Christmas to help avoid ‘travel chaos and to
keep families safe during the festive period.’
Last week, the Government announced travel restrictions
will be lifted from 23 to 27 December to allow people to
spend time with family over Christmas. In previous years,
over two million people travelled by rail between
Christmas and New Year, with millions more travelling by
car each day.
Ahead of the lifting of restrictions, ,
Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, has warned that “the
virus still poses an extreme risk.”
Labour is demanding the Transport Secretary comes to
Parliament on Monday with “a comprehensive travel plan to
ensure families travelling across the country are kept
safe and chaos on our roads and rail network is avoided.”
Labour is calling on the Government to suspend peak fares
over the five days to minimise the risk of overcrowding
on trains either side of peak hours, as part of a wider
plan to include:
- Mass coronavirus testing of transport workers,
including train staff, bus drivers and highway personnel.
- Delaying the planned engineering works on the East
Coast Mainline from 27 December to allow people
travelling to return home.
- Instructing Highways England to postpone non-essential
road maintenance to help reduce congestion and travel
delays.
,
Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said:
“Families will be looking forward to travelling to see
one other this Christmas after a really tough year.
However, we cannot afford to be complacent. The virus
still poses a very serious risk to people’s health.
“That’s why ministers need to come to Parliament on
Monday with a comprehensive travel plan to ensure
families travelling across the country are kept safe and
chaos on our roads and rail network is avoided.
“The Government needs to deliver mass testing for
transport workers and suspend peak fares over Christmas
to minimise the risk of overcrowded trains that could
spread the virus.
“This is too important for the Government to ignore or
leave until to the last minute. This is about protecting
lives and livelihoods.”
