Covid-related absences for TfL have already passed 2021’s total

Covid absences across TfL this year have alreayd surpassed numbers for the whole of 2021, new figures have revealed.

A Freedom of Information request by the Standard, has found there have been 4,716 TfL absences across train operators and other staff members up to the end of July - these figures do not include bus drivers.

For 2021, the numbers, which relate to incidents of staff testing positive for Covid rather than days missed, show a total of 4,512.

From May to the end of last month, a total of 1,634 absences were recorded by TfL with 871 reported in July.

A peak of 1,035 absences were reported in January this year, which included 836 train operators.

Last December alone, however, the rise in the Omicron variant caused 1,563 train operator absences, 2,132 overall.

If absences continue at the average rate this year (673 per month), 2022 may end with 8,084 reported incidents across the entire year, almost double that of 2021.

These figures come as TfL’s long-term future remains uncertain. Earlier this month, the Government offered a reported 20-month £3.6billion funding deal which TfL has yet to accept.

London’s transport network will be shutdown on Friday as 10,000 members of the RMT union working on the Tube, as well as 400 Overground staff working at Arriva Rail London, will strike for 24 hours in separate disputes over jobs and pay.

The industrial action falls between two 24-hour walkouts by RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators on Thursday and Saturday.

Dr Samantha Phillips, head of health and wellbeing at TfL told the Standard: “Our staff have continued to do an incredible job keeping London moving throughout the pandemic and we continue to provide free lateral flow tests to our staff.

“Clearly if they tested positive for Covid, they were required to not attend work and take sick leave.

“The figures largely reflect the various waves as new variants of Covid became prevalent and the lifting of restrictions in early 2022. We continue to work hard to ensure that any staff absences are suitably covered to ensure they don’t impact our services.”