Packed trains as workers return after PM’s speech but Raab says changes start Wednesday

Trains have been “packed” this morning including people not wearing face masks – hours after Boris Johnson issued his ‘confusing’ guidance.

The Prime Minister said, in changes applicable in England, that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should now be actively encouraged to go to work.

Yet he told people to avoid public transport if possible, advising people to cycle or drive.

The changes announced last night are meant to take effect from Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today clarified.

But already this morning, many took to social media to complain about “packed” trains with commuters reporting a lack of face masks and feeling uncomfortable.

One said it was a “disaster in the making”.

Photographs showed travelers unable to social distance or keep two meters apart, as well as busy roads as people headed to work.

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband tweeted: “The PM didn’t say workplace changes applied from Wednesday.

“He said ‘And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.’

“Wednesday was only mentioned in relation to other changes. Words matter. Clarity is essential. This is shambolic.”

The PM faced criticism as people all over social media blasted the ‘confusing’ guidance and the acting GMB General Secretary said many don’t have the luxury of being able to avoid public transport.

One tweeted Boris Johnson this morning saying: “Trains are busy again this morning!

“How are you going to keep my daughter, a nurse, safe on her journey to work.

“Having to get a later train as all the early trains have been canceled.”

She added an angry faced emoji.

Another wrote: “Oh my word. Train is packed with construction workers and NOBODY is wearing a mask and

“NO social distancing as if there’s no danger. @BorisJohnson@districtline@TfL PLEASE. (Sic) “

Copying in London Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL, one key worker wrote: “Again at 7am Acton Town Piccadilly Line east bound: the platform is packed, train every 20mins.

“I feel extremely uncomfortable on a packed train heading to work at a hospital with vulnerability patients.”

Tweeting Boris Johnson, one said: “If you can’t work from home and want to return to work and need public transport what are your plans to keep people safe?

“80% of the public use public transport to get to work sitting on a packed train with 70 strangers is surely not the way forward.”

“Peasants being sacrificed for the greater good.

“Tube trains packed and roads already getting busy despite ppl being advised to go back on Wednesday,” John Smith tweeted.

“When are we going to stop this nonsense? #thanksboris “

I added: “Tube trains in London packed! This is a disaster in the making …..”

The PM said in his address last night: “… And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.

“We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.

“We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.

“And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.

“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.

“And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.

“And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle.

“But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.”

Labor leader Keir Starmer said the PM “appears to be effectively telling millions of people to go back to work tomorrow” without the necessary guidance. “

I added: “We haven’t got the guidelines, and we don’t know how it’s going to work with public transport so there’s a huge number of questions arising out of this.”

John Phillips, acting GMB General Secretary, pointed out that many people don’t have the luxury of being able to avoid public transport.

He said: “Employers who now see a green light to operate will expect their employees to come in – what happens if they can’t do so without public transport?

Given workplace standards haven’t been published yet, how are employers supposed to know what to do to make workplaces safe?

“We all want to get back to normal but we have to think of this in terms of the real lives and challenge of the people who will be asked to go to work.”

Labor has called for greater clarity on how workers are meant to return to their jobs during the coronavirus crisis.

The party’s shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “People should be able to work in safety.

“People shouldn’t be in the uncertain position that they are today.

“Certainty helps workers. It helps employers. And, that’s what the Government should actually be providing.”