Despite the Omicron wave and telework, public transport in Rouen provides 100% of the service
If the SNCF has seen fit to reduce some of these connections, not all companies have made this choice. At the Rouen TCAR (Seine-Maritime), despite a high rate of absenteeism among its 1,200 employees due to the Omicron variant, the public transport company provides 100% of the service.
“Do you have your complete vaccination schedule?”. “Are you in contact or are you positive?” This is what the daily life of Ramdane Guerza, who manages the schedules of the TCAR of Rouen, looks like at the moment, since the appearance of the Omicron variant. A succession of calls from drivers signaling their absence. On this day (Tuesday, January 11, 2022), 34 are unable to come to work. He must then act as quickly as possible to replace the absent drivers.
The more the epidemic progresses, the more telework becomes the rule, which upsets the world of transport. If the SNCF has seen fit to reduce part of its connections, the TCAR of Rouen has decided to provide 100% of its service, despite a high rate of absenteeism among its 1,200 employees.
Every day 225 vehicles (bus/TEOR/Metro) circulate on the metropolitan network. This requires 670 drivers, to meet the hourly amplitude.
But employee absenteeism also weighs on other equally important company departments such as the maintenance and repair workshop.
On the depot, there are 70 people who take turns day and night, seven days a week for our mission. But right now, we’re more around 50…
Xavier Charron, Technical Director Transdev Rouen – TCAR
For the exterior cleaning of the vehicles, it is the same thing, even if the interior description continues every night, and for the whole fleet. For several months now, the company has been mobilizing to ensure its public service mission.
“We have to adapt every day, re-examine ourselves, check that our health standards are well maintained so that we are able to provide the service. We are only held together by the commitment of our employees”, indicates Guillaume Aribaud, Managing Director Transdev Rouen – TCAR.
On social networks, the Tip Network reminds us of the right things to do to avoid contamination: wear your mask well, keep as much space as possible between passengers, climb through the rear protections, etc.
Remember that failure to wear a mask is punishable by a fine of €135 in the event of an inspection.
Until now, the TCAR has insured 100% of its desserts in the metropolis of Rouen since the start of the crisis.
For its part, the SNCF is continuing its reduced transport plan until January 23, 2022. Since January 3, a given the drop in train use due to teleworking, the SNCF and the Normandy region have implemented a simplified transport plan in Normandy.
Initially announced until January 9, this plan is extended until Sunday January 23 included. A decrease in users estimated between 20 and 30%. But following the dissatisfaction of some users, trains have been added this week.
KRONO and KRONO + trains, i.e. those running to Paris, are maintained according to a ” normal service”. Long distance lines (Paris – Rouen – Le Havre, Paris – Caen – Cherbourg, Paris – Deauville and Paris – Granville) should therefore be checked.
The timetables of the trains in circulation are available on the SNCF application or directly on the Normandy TER website .