End of COVID plan B means “bustle and vitality” in towns and cities

The rail industry has begun to welcome the announced end of Plan B COVID restrictions.

This afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the work from home advice is to be scrapped immediately, and, as of next Thursday, there will be no need for COVID certification or mask-wearing as plan B comes to an end. Mask wearing will end in classrooms as of tomorrow.

Furthermore, the legal requirement need to self-isolate with COVID will be dropped in the near future. The regulations for this will expire 24 March, and the date could, Johnson told the House of Commons, be brought forward with a vote. He said that we could soon view COVID the way we do the flu.

Responding to today’s announcement about the ending of Plan B Covid restrictions in England, Go-Ahead customer and commercial director Mark Anderson said: “We welcome today’s announcement from the PM, which will help bring bustle and vitality back to our towns and cities. Whilst work and life patterns have changed for many, in-person interaction helps businesses thrive, and commuting can provide valued space between home and the office.

“Service levels on our buses and trains are increasing as colleague absence reduces, and we look forward to welcoming more customers back. Our apps and websites provide information on which services are busier, helping customers who would prefer to travel at quieter times.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “We look forward to welcoming passengers back to the railway once restrictions ease.

“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people travel, but taking the train is crucial to a green economic recovery for our towns and cities. So that passengers can travel with confidence we will monitor timetables closely, running services to fit changed travel patterns and ensuring that rail is an attractive choice. This is in addition to carrying out extra cleaning and providing better information about how busy services are.”

Image credit: Go-Ahead

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