Public transport lines could close in the phase of deconfinement, after May 11, if the health security rules were not respected, warned Tuesday the Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
“We are trying to take lucid action“, which will evolve from day to day and according to places, to organize the offer of public transport by reconciling the return of travelers and the respect of social distancing measures, said Mr. Djebbari at the National Assembly.
“Very pragmatic” discussions are still underway with the organizing authorities and the transport operators, the objective being “that the necessary journeys can be made from 11 (May) in good sanitary conditions”.
“Different scenarios” in Île-de-France
“These discussions (…) are continuing. We will be ready for the 11th,” he said.
In Île-de-France in particular, “we have established different scenarios, because indeed it is complicated to maintain physical distance within the trains” because of the importance of traffic, he noted.
“We made sure to work much more on upstream regulation – at the entrance to stations, at the entrance to stations -, to also work on markings on the ground,” explained the Secretary of State.
While some stations may close, “we plan (…) to regulate (…) the flow of travelers, to issue certificates” which would reserve public transport for workers at certain times, he noted, adding that “all of this must still find inter-ministerial arbitration. ”
In addition to the police, SNCF and RATP security agents will be empowered to punish non-compliance with the wearing of masks, which is compulsory in public transport from May 11.
Risks of “disturbing public order”
“If we notice dysfunctions, of public order or (falling) of the order of health security, we will not hesitate to close such bus line, such train line, such tram line”, warned M Djebbari.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday, transport operators worried about the “risk in the event of a large crowd of having to take decisions at any time to stop service likely to generate disturbances to public order”.
The current frequentation of the RATP network is no more than 4% compared to normal, for 30% of the usual train supply. The maintenance of telework should allow May 11 to contain demand at 19% (against 30% without telework), with 70% of supply, according to Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
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