Face coverings on public transport guidance

From 15 June travellers on public transport in England, including buses, trains and aircraft passengers, must, with some very limited exemptions, wear mouth and nose coverings.

This will coincide with the re-opening of ‘non-essential retail’. Other than public transport workers, the responsibility for (and cost of) providing coverings will be on the passengers.

There is no requirement for a particular type or standard of face mask; indeed, the government asks passengers to not use medical standard ones.

The Rail Delivery Group has recently issued guidance for employers on train journeys. It asks for support in reducing the number of journeys taken, suggests booking tickets in advance and asks passengers to carry and use hand sanitiser. Details will shortly be announced of a new online system for showing in realtime which trains are more, or less, busy.

Wherever possible people should continue to avoid public transport and walk, cycle or drive, but for some people this may not be an option. Transport usage has been slowly increasing, including on the tube which has seen around a 20% rise this week compared to last week.