Restrictions will affect train and bus travel: disembarkation can be made after police checks

According to the government resolution, as of Wednesday a person will be able to leave the municipality of their residence only due to the death of close relatives, to work when the workplace is in another municipality, or for necessary medical assistance. The restriction does not apply to people who travel to another municipality where they own real estate. Residents traveling must have a document proving the purpose of the trip.

There will be minor changes to bus schedules.

Head of the Gintaras Nakutis Passenger Transport Association Delphi says changes to bus schedules depend on the number of passengers. According to him, passenger carriers have reduced the number of their flights since November, as soon as the quarantine was announced. Small adjustments are also being made to the schedules.

“Currently, only half of all trips, which were generally before the pandemic, have survived. Members of the association cut only a small percentage of trips this week. Now their numbers can be adjusted to less than 5 percent. The changes that will take place now will last until the holidays, and in January we will see what to do next, “he says, adding that carriers are committed to maintaining a minimum network of routes because people still need to travel, life is not stops at all.

According to G. Nakutis, the buses are currently empty. Compared to the passenger flow before the pandemic, now only a quarter remains, at best. With the new restrictions coming into effect, traffic is expected to decline further.

Kautra will not reduce the number of trips during the holidays

Lithuania’s largest long-haul airline, Kautra, which has the most routes in Lithuania, announced on Wednesday that all current routes will be valid during the holidays; They will not change the schedule or reduce the number of flights. G. Nakutis points out that after the holidays the company will monitor the situation: if there are no passengers, the number of flights can be reduced.

“Changes have already been made to the number of intercity flights in the past due to the reduced number of passengers, we do not plan any further changes in the run-up to the holidays.” All buses that will run tomorrow will also run during the festive period, ”says Linas Skardžiukas, general manager of Kautra, in a press release.

“Tales” reduced 4 trips

Arūnas Indrašius, director of another passenger transport company, Toks Delphi It says that 4 trips will fall starting on Saturday. So far, the company does not foresee any other changes and does not close the addresses.

“When the quarantine began, we reduced it by 45 percent. Flights in all directions, we will reduce by four more from Saturday. We reduce Klaipeda (from Vilnius – Delphi) at 6 pm very early travel, uncomfortable for people, but remains at 6:40 pm and 7 pm travel, “says A. Indrašius.

According to the interlocutor, the flow of passengers has now decreased to 60-70 percent compared to last year.

“Yesterday and the day before yesterday, there was more movement, and today it is already in decline,” adds the headline of “Tales.”

The number of train trips will also decrease

Rūta Atroškaitė, representative of the Lithuanian Railways Communication Department Delphi He commented that residents will be informed about changes in train schedules before Friday.

“We want to inform people on Friday so that they can plan the necessary trips for the next week. Routes remain: people will be able to travel from point A to point B, but the number of trips is likely to decrease. This means that if you could drive from point A to point B four times a day, now it will be possible two or three times, ”he says.

G. Nakutis, representative of passenger carriers, points out that passengers can monitor information; Information on schedule changes can be found at all bus stations and on the carriers’ websites.

Carriers do not have the right to control passengers

Carriers have not been able to give a precise answer on how passengers traveling by bus or intercity train will be controlled. According to G. Nakutis, carriers only have the right to ask a passenger and remind him that if he travels without a serious need, problems can arise. The driver has no right to accept a passenger and check his document.

The passenger himself must understand if he has reasons to go to another municipality. Information will be posted at bus stations, drivers will also catch the attention of passengers and ask them if they have a reason to go.
The police can check if there is no reason for the passenger to have to return to their place of residence. Why do people have problems? “Says the representative of the carrier.

The interlocutor mentions that in spring, during Easter, under strict traffic restrictions, police controls were carried out when buses arrived at the station.

Said manager also agrees that drivers cannot control each passenger where they are going. The driver is responsible for getting on and off safely inside, so you don’t have time for additional procedures.

“It just came to our knowledge then. And if the passenger fails to demonstrate exactly why he is driving. It may appear to a person that he is driving with a goal. If the police stop the bus in the middle of the field, will the passenger be allowed go outside? These things about passengers are always forgotten. Older people also travel by bus, the question is whether they will fully understand the procedure. The bus cannot return, if it has disembarked, it will have to walk, “says A. Indrašius.

According to the representative of the Lithuanian Railways, according to the government procedure, inspections will be carried out when entering cities, traveling only with cars.

“There is no talk of interurban inspections of public transport, leaving an aspect of conscience. According to the information we have to date, no checks on train or bus passengers were planned, ”says R. Atroškaitė.

According to her, the Lithuanian railways cannot control passengers: “We can only guarantee that the journey is safe: distance is kept, that is, flow control, use of masks, hand disinfection. It is in our power and will to make the trip safe. However, we cannot control passengers, ask a person to demonstrate whether their trip is necessary or not, we cannot. “

Police: bus and train passengers will also be controlled

According to Ramūnas Matonis, Head of the Communications Department of the Police Department, police officers can also monitor passengers traveling by bus and train. If the passengers do not have documents, they must disembark.

“They can be inspected everywhere: at stations, at the post office. At the post, everyone who passes will be checked. Anyway, you can stop anywhere on the road.

With trains, it is more difficult to control passengers, but there are opportunities. The police can control passengers arriving at the station and getting off the train. You can also check at the stops, ”says R. Matonis.

The police advise passengers to think about all of this before planning a trip and boarding a bus or train.

“We ask residents to think before traveling if they really have the necessary documents. If you are an old man, we will not go in the middle of the fields. If possible, the police officers themselves can take you to the nearest stop so you can return. In each case, the officials will decide individually, “he says.

Police promise to install around 250 checkpoints and monitor up to 900 guard crews over the coming weekends and the holiday season until the adjustment expires in early January. The police will also be assisted by military police, border guards, municipal administrations, shooters and other organizations. People are asked to carry documents that prove the possibility of going to another municipality, or photos of them.

Strict controls at city entrances

Delphi Remember that on Monday the government decided that to control the spread of the coronavirus in Lithuania, the population was prohibited from leaving their municipality without very important reasons. It is true that such restrictions have exceptions. People can travel for work, they can go to medical institutions or to the funeral of their loved ones.

As Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė reported on Tuesday, the police will organize stationary checkpoints in all municipalities and control incoming vehicles, and some 250 checkpoints will be set up. Police plan to set up checkpoints only on weekends and holidays. However, the police force will be strengthened every day from the strict quarantine.

The inspection will take place from December 18 at 1 p.m., to December 20 at 9 p.m., and from December 23 at 1 p.m., at 27 p.m., 9 p.m. Traffic restrictions will also apply from December 31 at 1:00 p.m. to January 3 at 9:00 p.m.

“If 750 crews go to our streets on normal days, 920 crews will leave these days. As for the next few days, there will be mobile control and 60 more crews will go out on the streets,” explained the Minister.