Great Western Coffee Shop

I agree with Taplow Green. On my very rare rail trips during the last 15 months, I've never thought it vital that masks be worn by a handful of passengers on an open-air platform (though I've always done so) but believe that a mask is essential (and should continue to be mandatory) inside a carriage.

I shall continue to wear a mask inside most stores, though were I to have forgotten to take one I would go in unless the place was busy.

Face coverings are mandatory on board the train and in all enclosed areas of railway stations, from when you enter a station, throughout your journey and exiting the station at the other end.

Perhaps the word "enclosed" was a late addition to the early regulations? Last year there were signs at Tilehurst to the effect that masks should be worn "at this station" and I recall feeling guilty when I went through the gates at Reading with my mask around my neck (I quickly pulled it up over my mouth and nose.)

My italics. What qualifies as 'enclosed' could be a moot point - under a canopy is pretty well-ventilated, but within a waiting shelter may not be.

I suppose a reasonable definition would be akin to the requirements for smoking shelters outside places of work. They mist not be substantially enclosed, taken to mean at least 50 per cent open (the floor doesn't count). A station platform with canopy would fit that criterion, although thankfully smoking is verboten by other regulations.

While, for example, some airlines have confirmed face masks will still be compulsory after 19 July, shops, pubs and hairdressers are altering policies.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, says that travelling by train is "low risk" and "any decision to leave public transport behind other parts of the economy would need to be based on the science".

It says trains are "well ventilated with air regularly refreshed either by air conditioning systems, or by doors and windows being opened".

The group adds, though, that wearing a mask can help protect other rail users.

However, the Unite union has said that dropping mask-wearing on public transport would be "gross negligence".

Unite's national officer for passenger transport, Bobby Morton, pointed to the number of deaths from Covid among bus drivers.

"Rates of infection are continuing to increase and not only does mask wearing reduce transmissions, it helps provide reassurance to drivers and to passengers who are nervous about using public transport."

It goes seem that the rail industry follows government direction and suggestion much more closely (less independently) than airlines, shops, and other services.   And with the government switching from "really important to wear masks" to "it's up to you", has the rail delivery group flipped too.

The former probably wouldn’t even consider wearing a mask, the latter 100% wearing one

44% agree that as long as passengers are wearing face coverings, reducing the social distancing on public transport makes sense to them. 51% say that they won’t use public transport unless social distancing is in place. 58% agree that they won’t use public transport unless passengers are required to wear face coverings.

There has clearly been considerable push-back against the proposed relaxation, while polling shows a majority for retaining mandatory face coverings on public transport.
 
Grant Schapps, interviewed today, conceded that transport operators have the legal right to insist on face coverings as part of (he said) 'Conditions of Carriage'; he cited EasyJet as having decided to exercise that right, in continuing insistence on face coverings.
 
It seems unreasonable that passengers, especially vulnerable ones, should be put at risk by the decisions taken by medically ignorant individuals.

What of the bus and train operators in our region?  Can TWSW put these points to them, and get a commitment to continuation of mandatory face coverings until the wave has passed?

Xxxx says GWR have not yet determined their best tac on the wearing of masks.   They are waiting on official guidance, market research and the Unions. For now, the mask signs stay up.  They have concerns that PT may become the sole perceived area of risk if it is singled out for mask wearing.  It may be interesting to see what compared attitudes to transport are like in Japan.

Xxxx Xxxxxxx says SWR are waiting on ORR guidance but still stressing personal responsibility to wear masks on busy trains.  Unions, ORR and risk assessment.  Opportunity to be more consistent?  People clearly willing to come back.

* Could there be a significant loss of rail traffic if the mask mandate becomes "masks optional" as people - especially the more vulnerable - fear that it's not as safe as it could be any longer, and stay away from public transport?

Will YOU wear a mask when using public transport after 19th July?  (Voting closed at 05:18:27 am)
Yes - all of the time   - 5 (11.1%)
Yes - most of the time   - 11 (24.4%)
Only in limited busy / enclosed areas   - 21 (46.7%)
No, I will not wear a mask   - 6 (13.3%)
I will not be using public transport   - 2 (4.4%)
I am not yet decided   - 0 (0%)

An exclusive poll for MailOnline has found that 72 per cent of the public are likely to don coverings to go on the train, Tube or bus after they become voluntary on 'Freedom Day'.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/keypitup.jpg)

The purpose of this communication is to urge you to continue requiring passengers to wear masks when using your services.  This reflects the strength of concern that has come to us from people throughout the southwest.  TravelWatch SouthWest exists to promote the interests of public transport users and potential users throughout the region, has received strong expressions of concern from people throughout the region and we would be failing in our role as a community interest company if we were not to share these concerns with you.

In his appearance before the Commons’ Transport Select Committee last week, the Secretary of State emphasised the responsibility of each transport operator to decide whether or not to make mask wearing a requirement, each being free to set their own conditions of carriage. Public opinion research makes it clear that a significant majority of the public wish to see continued wearing of masks on public transport while research conducted for the Government’s own passenger watchdog reports that the majority of potential users say that they will not use public transport unless face coverings are a requirement. 

An Opinium poll for the Observer published on Sunday found that 73% of people now believe wearing masks on public transport should continue.  This result is similar to those obtained by Ipsos MORI for The Economist last week which reported that 70% wished to see face masks continue to be compulsory in shops and on public transport for 1 month after 19th July while almost two in three (64%) would like it to remain in place ‘until coronavirus is under control worldwide’.  The most recent results from Transport Focus’s weekly Travel During Covid-19 Survey (fieldwork 2-4 July) report that 56% of public transport users say they will not use public transport unless face coverings are a requirement.  The majority of public transport users clearly see the wearing of masks as important to their personal safety.

This must surely resonate with your company. 

Any decision to drop mask-wearing would be hard to reconcile with the reputation of the Group for its commitment to its safety culture, and the Company’s claim that its absolute priority is safety, quite apart from the way it would reflect corporate disdain for the well-being of its passengers and front-line staff.

The Secretary of State made the point that there is a distinction to be made between the use of masks on public transport that people need to take, and their use in those locations to which people go for non-essential discretionary activity – such as nightclubs.  There is surely an ethical responsibility to support those who have no realistic choice other than to use or work in public transport, for example by minimising their exposure to behaviour that brings unnecessary risk, such as the refusal of others to wear masks. 

There is also corporate self-interest.  We want to see a resurgence of public transport use.  We know from research by Transport Focus and others that a significant proportion of those who used public transport before the pandemic would not feel safe using it currently.  Official guidance has almost certainly contributed to perceptions of public transport as ‘unhygienic’ or ‘potentially ‘unsafe’.  Relaxing the rules on the use of masks is likely to accentuate these fears and slow the return to its usage.   

There is surely a moral duty on both individuals and companies to do what we can to protect the vulnerable, whether passengers or staff, and to mitigate the fears of the anxious whilst rebuilding confidence in public transport.  The requirement to wear masks should continue.

Finally, those who worry (and there are always those who worry) or have particular medical problems that increase their susceptibility to respiratory infection can wear a surgical grade face mask that protects them as the wearer, which is probably better for them than relying on the variable quality of masks worn by their fellow passengers.   

Covid: Bus and train firms must decide whether to require masks

The government has said bus and train companies must decide whether passengers will be required to wear face coverings on their services from Monday, when Covid rules are relaxed.

Face masks have been mandatory on public transport for the past year to reduce the spread of the virus.

But those rules will be replaced with government guidance advising passengers to wear masks only on busy services.

Transport firms will be left to decide whether to enforce that advice and how.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said masks would still be "recommended" on public transport, but people without a face covering would no longer be fined after restrictions are eased on 19 July.

Nevertheless, bus and train companies will still be able to turn away passengers who refuse to wear one - unless they are exempt.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it was "up to them" to decide whether to make face coverings compulsory for passengers.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the safest option would be to continue to legally require people to wear masks on public transport.

His comments came as Labour criticised the government's approach to unlocking in England as "high risk" and "fatalistic".

While virtually all legal restrictions in England will be lifted on Monday, some guidance will remain.

There will no longer be any limits on how many people can meet and the 1m-plus distancing rule will be removed.

Nightclubs will also be allowed to reopen for the first time since March 2020 and capacity limits will be removed for all venues and events.

But nightclubs and other venues with large crowds will be encouraged to use Covid status certification - so-called domestic vaccine passports - "as a matter of social responsibility", Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

Government guidance to work from home where possible will be lifted, but ministers are encouraging a gradual return to the workplace.

On face coverings, Mr Johnson said: "We expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don't normally meet, such as on public transport."

Analysis by Caroline Davies, transport correspondent

Transport companies have been weighing up whether to mandate masks or not. If you're flying, chances are you will still need to wear one; many airlines have decided to keep masks as a requirement for travel.

But most train, bus and coach operators in England will now decide they won't be mandatory, following the lead set by rail and passenger groups.

Companies will still ask passengers to wear masks when services are busy. But there's concern among many transport operators that a blanket requirement could make people think that public transport is more dangerous than other indoor settings, like restaurants and pubs. We haven't yet heard from the London Mayor about whether masks will be required on Transport for London-run services.

Wales and Scotland both still require anyone travelling on public transport to wear a mask by law, meaning that those taking services that cross the border from England will have notices reminding them to wear a face covering unless exempt. It is the second time this has happened during the course of the pandemic.

passengers will find it "difficult to understand" why the prime minister has "singled out public transport as somewhere to wear a face covering when a range of other activities share its characteristics."

The group said it wanted clear guidance for operators and customers, adding that it was important to respect everyone's right to choose whether to wear a face covering once restrictions had eased.

members would ask passengers to wear face coverings in busy indoor settings "out of respect for others".

It said enhanced cleaning would continue after 19 July and train companies would provide better information about how busy services are

confirmed masks would continue to be required on public transport and in healthcare settings "even if" the nation relaxes restrictions, which are due to be reviewed on 15 July.

said it was vital to proceed with "caution" in England after 19 July, warning "this pandemic is not over" .

Rules regarding face coverings are due to be considered next month in Northern Ireland, which is due to ease some Covid measures on 26 July.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to make an announcement about restrictions on Tuesday. Scotland is expected to move to level 0 - the lowest level of restrictions in its roadmap - on 19 July and lift most legal restrictions on 9 August.

The peak of the current wave is not expected before mid-August and could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions per day, according to government scientists.

Central estimates from modellers advising the government also show that Covid deaths are expected to be between 100 and 200 per day at the peak, although there is a large amount of uncertainty.

More than 45.9 million people - or 87% of adults in the UK - have now had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. And more than 34.8 million - around two-thirds of adults - have had both doses.

We’ve been told by our unions not to enforce mask wearing to avoid potential conflict whilst it’s been a legal requirement.
Are the unions honestly going to tell us to enforce now it’s not a legal requirement?

My heart is telling me that I will decline any passenger not wearing a mask (having asked them to put one on please) travel on my bus.
Unwilling passenger would be asked to try the next service.
However, this could/will cause potential conflict; so will I actually go through with it.

Does my learned friend above have similar thoughts?

Mask wearing will remain compulsory on the tube and other London transport services after next Monday, Transport for London is to announce, as national rail and bus operators in England said they would only request passengers follow government guidance.

Unions and bus industry bodies attacked the government for its confused messaging over the changes from 19 July, when face coverings will no longer be mandatory, saying the changed rhetoric had left operators unable to plan and could put staff and services at risk.

Airlines have already indicated that they will continue to demand passengers wear masks, and cross-Channel train service Eurostar has now said it will make mask-wearing a condition of carriage, from check-in at London St Pancras station.

From The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/13/masks-will-be-needed-on-london-tube-buses-and-trains-tfl-to-confirm)

Things next week will be confusing, certainly on the local train services and stations between Paddington and Reading. 

The Mayor for London has mandated the wearing of face coverings on all TfL services and stations where as GWR will, likely, follow the Government and National Rail Association guidance of individuals choice.

So from next week if you are travelling in and around London be mindful of who operates the trains and stations you use, TfL GE & GW Crossrail, London Overground will still require face coverings

I have recently had house guests from Hong Kong, who wore masks at all times outside the house, even on Exmoor, and in the car with my wife and I, when leaving our house, where minutes before, we had been sat chatting, entirely bare-faced. Some nations take this more seriously than we do.