"More people need to stop travelling on the tube right now" says Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London have today stressed that those who are not essential key-workers must stop travelling on the tube to help save lives.

The statement comes following a number of concerns highlighted by the public who have been sharing and commenting on a number of photos showing packed tube carriages on the capital's reduced Underground service.

Photos doing the rounds on social media show ram-packed tube journeys, no different from travelling during rush hour before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Vernon Everitt, TfL’s Managing Director of Customers, Communication and Technology, said on Tuesday following the news that passenger numbers are down 87 per cent: "To save lives, everyone must follow the Government and Mayor’s instructions to stay at home and only travel if absolutely essential. Only critical workers should be using public transport and no one else.

"We thank those acting on that which has brought passenger journeys on the Tube down by around 87 per cent. But to save lives and enable critical NHS and other workers to use our reduced services, more people need to stop travelling right now."

Sadiq khan also had his say on the worrying sight of commuters standing within inches of one another in such confined spaces.

He said: "LONDON: we must stop all non-essential use of public transport now. Growing numbers of @TfL staff are off sick or self-isolating: we cannot run more services than we currently are.

"If you have to go to work, please don't travel at rush hour.#COVID19."

Transport for London also announced that: "TfL and Crossrail will be bringing all project sites to a temporary Safe Stop unless they need to continue for operational safety reasons." All work on such projects is now suspended with immediate effect.

Image credit: Twitter - @RosieMc20