Incidentally, there's an article here suggesting that the main method of transmission is not droplets but aerosols (the difference being that both are microscopic but droplets are large enough to fall to the ground quickly, aerosols remain airborne). This would mean that indoor settings without ventilation are much more risky than previously thought, regardless of distance from a carrier.

https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html

The rules' effectiveness in limiting the spread of the virus is compromised by the need (real or perceived) to keep the economy going and various functions of normal society, such as schools, running. This will lead some people to question the point of following them at all, and others to question the point of the exceptions. That was what I was trying to say, in two sentences.

Is what Hitachi call them. Well, apart from the ones they call Javelin (which they also call AT395).
http://hitachirail-eu.com/products/our-trains/at300-intercity-high-speed

It's not always clear what the rules are for, since they try to balance conflicting priorities; in this case, keeping the economy 'open' and reducing people mixing. So we wear masks walking into a cafe or restaurant but then spend most of the time chatting away without them. Add to this that the rules are made in parliament but applied by businesses, schools, bus drivers and so on, all with their own priorities, and it's no wonder there are inconsistencies in application.

Yes, but the name did inevitably get applied to the train itself.

I can't remember not using both names, and probably HST125 as well, ever since I first travelled on one (about 1978). So if one train can have multiple names even with one operator at one time, there's no chance of limiting the names with multiple operators!

That would work fine when they're in school. When they're anywhere else, it leads to all sorts of vagueness. What if you're in middle school and visit an area which has primary and secondary? Or an area which has both systems? Or you're at a private school which doesn't follow the general primary-secondary distinction? Or home schooled? Age is arbitrary but can at least be determined.

Possibly. Or perhaps just that when HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) were introduced, there was only one operator with one identity, (and that HST name was well known to the travelling public by the time of privatisation) whereas now each operator seeks to stamp its own identity as much as possible.

I agree with the general idea that we should be encouraging mask use where possible regardless of legal exemptions. But I would say there might be reasons not to even where a person can safely do so. For instance, you might be accompanying a deaf person who relies on lip reading.

In the specific case of children, it's going to vary from child to child. Some will have no problem wearing a mask at well under 11, some will find it traumatic even when older.

If nothing else I suppose it demonstrates that the 5-cars do have an advantage on occasions.

The idea of dividing taxis into 'hackney' and 'private hire' (I think I've got the right terms) is a rather odd and artificial one. Many, probably most, countries do without it. It seems to only be relevant in terms of protecting two distinct markets, rather than the safety standards you might be interested in as a passenger.

I'd thought of it as transitional referring to transit between station and destination. But perhaps I was over-interpreting.

The company's website shows it as bike, not cycle. In Indian English there's a clear distinction: bike = motorcycle, cycle = pedal cycle. Perhaps someone at Railway Gazette interpreted bike in the British English sense!
https://rapido.bike

What is a cycle taxi? They're trying to make it sound like not a rickshaw but I bet that's what it is. Generally enough of those around to make a specific scheme unnecessary ? unless they've got guaranteed fares too.