Coronavirus: deconfinement, the public transport puzzle

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Edouard Philippe presented yesterday, Tuesday April 29, the government's plan for deconfinement. On the issue of transport, the Prime Minister announced that the distancing measures will have to be applied in public transport, but this will be very complicated to implement since, in certain lines of the Paris metro, even during confinement, some trains are already crowded at rush hour.

Publicity

RFI followed line 13 of the metro which crosses Paris from North to South, it is the most used in the capital. The loudspeakers spit: "  Coronavirus alert. Always stay more than a meter from each other  . ” It's an announcement of social distancing that some people have gotten used to: “  I take line 13 every day. We put on the mask,  ”says this lady.

Significant attendance

Since the start of confinement, it has used the metro, line 13 of the Paris network, the most crowded in normal times. Since March 16, attendance has certainly decreased, but it remains significant, as this morning. The train is full. To the great regret of those who have no other choice: “  The safety distances are no longer respected at all. Then even on the surfaces, we touch everything, we hold the bars…  ”.

Under these conditions, some fear an influx of travelers from May 11 with the lifting of the containment  : "  It worries me because there are no security measures since we are tight against each other and it makes me angry because we have to go to work, and we will work under these conditions  . ”

Distancing rules maintained

The executive, however, announced that the social distancing rules will be maintained in public transportation on May 11. But it will have to be reconciled with the objective of increasing the power of the Paris network. It operates at a quarter of its capacity today. The goal is to reach 70% in ten days.

Read also: Coronavirus: what to remember from the deconfinement plan presented by Edouard Philippe

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