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Swine flu 'to disrupt transport' Swine flu 'to disrupt transport'
(about 2 hours later)
A UK swine flu epidemic could severely disrupt transport in London, a business group and union have warned.A UK swine flu epidemic could severely disrupt transport in London, a business group and union have warned.
If 40% of the UK population contract it, as the government estimates, there will be "considerable" travel problems, the Business Continuity Institute says.If 40% of the UK population contract it, as the government estimates, there will be "considerable" travel problems, the Business Continuity Institute says.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the impact would be "devastating".
Transport for London (TfL) said it had contingency plans and any service reduction would correspond with a reduced number of passengers.Transport for London (TfL) said it had contingency plans and any service reduction would correspond with a reduced number of passengers.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has demanded to see the plans.
There have now been 17 swine flu-related deaths in the UK, including six-year-old Chloe Buckley, from west London, who died on 9 July.There have now been 17 swine flu-related deaths in the UK, including six-year-old Chloe Buckley, from west London, who died on 9 July.
The safety of customers and staff is our top priority and is at the core of our contingency planning Transport for London
England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the number of cases in London is approaching epidemic levels.England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the number of cases in London is approaching epidemic levels.
Business Continuity Institute director Lyndon Bird said he expected "quite a lot" of rail stations to close and a significant reduction in the number of trains and buses available as swine flu spreads.Business Continuity Institute director Lyndon Bird said he expected "quite a lot" of rail stations to close and a significant reduction in the number of trains and buses available as swine flu spreads.
He said: "This will maybe handle the volume that are required but it will certainly cause considerable travelling delays to the public and will probably cause frustrations and difficulties for businesses."He said: "This will maybe handle the volume that are required but it will certainly cause considerable travelling delays to the public and will probably cause frustrations and difficulties for businesses."
'Devastating' impact Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) general secretary Bob Crow said transport workers are at greater risk of contracting swine flu as they tend to work in close contact with the public.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said transport workers are at greater risk of contracting swine flu as they tend to work in close contact with the public, often in confined spaces such as trains, buses and on the London Underground. Mr Crow said: "If the predicted development of the swine flu is accurate it will have a devastating impact on transport services.
Mr Crow said: "If the predicted development of the swine flu is accurate it will have a devastating impact on transport services and will expose both the shortage of staff and the inadequate planning across our fragmented system." "London is expected to be hardest hit and it would be a dangerous gamble to try to run services without adequate staffing levels."
He added: "London is expected to be hardest hit and it would be a dangerous gamble to try to run services without adequate staffing levels." 'Dangerous nonsense'
A TfL spokesman said: "If a pandemic were to occur then it is likely that transport staff, like the rest of the general population, will be affected, which could reduce the number of frontline staff available to operate services. A TfL spokesman said: "If an epidemic were to occur then it is likely that transport staff, like the rest of the general population, will be affected, which could reduce the number of frontline staff available to operate services.
"Depending on the numbers affected then this could mean that the overall level of transport service provided would reduce, but this would correspond with a reduction in passenger demand due to the spread of flu within the general population." "But this would correspond with a reduction in passenger demand due to the spread of flu within the general population."
But Mr Crow said this was "dangerous nonsense" that was "miles out of touch with the safety implications of running services with inadequate staffing levels".But Mr Crow said this was "dangerous nonsense" that was "miles out of touch with the safety implications of running services with inadequate staffing levels".
The union asked to view TfL's contingency transport plans and to be involved in future discussions on dealing with the spread of swine flu. However, the TfL spokesman insisted: "The safety of customers and staff is our top priority and is at the core of our contingency planning."