About 20 bus drivers, train drivers and train hosts demonstrated at Helsingborg Central against the cuts in public transport that Skånetrafiken has made due to the corona pandemic.
- We are trying to get back our traffic which has been reduced since May due to corona.
In part, there will be fewer jobs but also congestion on board, especially now that school has started, says Tobias Allhorn, train driver and board member of SEKO club Pågatåg.
Increased congestion
The reason for the reductions is that Skånetrafiken has lost SEK 1.1 billion since the corona pandemic when travel has fallen sharply.
But now that school has started and the holiday is over, traffic congestion has increased and there is concern among train drivers, bus drivers and train hosts about how it affects the spread of the coronavirus.
- Considering corona times and how crowded it is on the buses, it is very important that they can take back their cancellations, says Richard Revemerk, bus driver in Lund.
Region Skåne, on the other hand, believes that travel has not increased enough to increase times again and that residents themselves need to take their responsibility when it comes to traveling collectively.
- We drive as much as we can when going to work and studies, while the Public Health Agency says to avoid traveling by public transport if it is not necessary, says Carina Zachau (M), chairman of the public transport committee in Region Skåne.
More threats against bus drivers
The increase in congestion has also made the work environment more unsafe for bus drivers.
- Threats and violence have increased dramatically.
These are very aggressive people who have a short stub and are stressed and wonder why they can not go with, says Richard Revemark.
Despite this, Region Skåne will not expand bus and train traffic in the near future.
- I do not think it will be this fall.
I do not think we will see any change until possibly until the summer of next year, says Carina Zachau (M).