THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to extend the Christmas travel window amid warnings public transport will become a Covid superspreader.

The Yorkshire Party wants to see a wider travel window to avoid congestion on roads and overcrowding on public transport, which it claims will spread coronavirus.

Party leader, Bob Buxton, who is also the spokesman for transport, said: “With such a short window, millions of people will travel on December 23rd and 27th. Trains will be packed, buses will be packed, taxis will be overstretched. Public transport will become a superspreader, at exactly the time when households are mixing.”

“We urge the Government to stretch the window or at least allow some flexibility. Perhaps people could be allowed to begin their five day window one day earlier or one day later, for example, beginning on the 24th and ending on the 28th. Those who’ve already booked transport could be allowed to rebook without penalty.”

The Yorkshire Party is also concerned about the safety of public transport workers.

Dr Buxton, who lives in Rawdon, stressed: “It is completely unfair to leave conductors and drivers to police a catastrophe in the making. Passengers may not take kindly to being told a train or bus is too crowded for them to board and go home for Christmas. The possibilities of abuse and assault are very real.”

“Road congestion, especially at a time of year when we may well expect poor weather and visibility, carries huge risks too and the emergency services will be stretched. There’s still time for the Government to extend the window or make it flexible – I urge them to act now.”

After last month’s announcement of an easing of restrictions over the festive period a Christmas travel tsar was appointed in a bid to avoid transport chaos.The Department for Transport said Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy would scrutinise whether train, air and road networks were ready for millions of people making trips over the five-day window.

Capacity on board trains is restricted to allow social distancing, with some operators preventing passengers from boarding without a pre-booked ticket. Strain on the network was also predicted because of engineering work.

The UK Government and devolved administrations have agreed a temporary easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, allowing three households to mix in a bubble from December 23 to 27.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urged the public to plan journeys very carefully before travelling and to book in advance.

He added:“Everyone must also follow the clear guidance to keep your fellow passengers and staff safe.”