Boris Johnson says we can all go back to work but Northampton's train operator says don't all rush at once

Train bosses are pleading with Northamptonshire commuters to make plans now for the big return to work next month.

Travellers who have spent four months working from home or on furlough will need to stagger journeys and avoid peak times where possible to avoid overcrowding.

Four months after telling people to stay at home to slow the spread of Covid-19, the Prime Minister said on Friday it will now be down to employers to decide if staff could safely come back to their regular workplaces from 1 August.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps insists there is enough room on buses and trains for everybody to use it to go back to work.

Yet train operators London Northwestern Railway, which runs commuter services between London, Northampton and Birmingham, estimate only less than half the usual number of passengers will be able to travel on any given train due to social distancing requirements.

An LNR spokesman said: "Our trains are currently running at about 15 per cent loadings at the moment — although trains to London can be busier.

"With the new ‘one metre-plus’ guidance, as opposed to two metres, that gives us capacity of around 40 per cent before social distancing starts to be impacted

"The advice we are giving to passengers is to avoid busier times of travel where possible and to wear a face covering on board unless you are exempt from having to."

Mr Shapps said: "I would encourage people to use walking and cycling first and then avoid the rush hours if you can, but we are saying everybody can now use public transport, not just key workers.

"Until we have been saying to avoid public transport unless you absolutely have no other alternative. But now, our public transport system is actually underused."

Wearing face coverings has been mandatory for passengers on buses and trains since June 15, although response from passengers has been mixed — especially on buses — with confusion over those who may be exempt from the rules.

London Northwestern say they are relying on passengers to follow the guidelines to wear a face covering, carry hand sanitiser, wash hands before and after travel, sit by a window and look for seats away from others.

National Rail has also launched an 'Alert Me' tool to give would-be travellers information on when stations and trains are likely to be busy.