POST-COVID ‘NEW NORMAL’ LOOKS RATHER LIKE … NORMAL
By mid-June Europe’s railway industry was returning to a post-pandemic ‘new normal’. From 15 June the majority of European borders were due to reopen; many had already reopened in the three weeks beforehand and international trains returned to many routes from the beginning of June.
Different countries have taken different approaches to social distancing; France followed the World Health Organisation guideline of one metre whilst other countries such as Germany and the Netherlands adopted 1.5 metres. Ireland and Switzerland both adopted two metres as used in the UK and as lockdown measures were eased different approaches were evident in distancing planned (if any) for rail services in the next few months. EU guidance initially suggested strict social distancing should be maintained on trains whilst airlines in Europe were permitted to fly at full capacity, but now it seems governments and rail operators have come to alternative conclusions.
In France the easing of a very strict lockdown began in late April although the government made it clear then that people would be able to go on holiday from June onwards within France. By mid-June SNCF was activel…
