Social distancing

A revision in social distancing rules heralds the restoration of a full timetable in some parts of the country.

RAIL understands that most passengers are wearing face coverings on trains, in compliance with them becoming mandatory on all public transport in England from June 15.

As RAIL went to press last issue ( RAIL 907), it was unclear how mandatory face coverings would be enforced. The announcement eventually came on June 12 that the regulations were being made under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.

But it was not until June 14

(the day before the regulations were due to come into effect) that the changes were made by a Statutory Instrument (SI). SIs are a form of legislation allowing for the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be altered without Parliament having to pass a new Act.

Under the rules, operators have the power to stop passengers who refuse to cover up from travelling. The British Transport Police and authorised personnel are able to issue fixed penalty notices of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days) for noncompliance. Exemptions apply for those with specific health conditions, disabled people, or children under 11 years old.

The Secretary of State for Transport is required to review the regulations before the end of the year (a period of six months from the date of which they came into force).

More than half of passengers (58%) have said they would not be happy using public transport without mandatory face coverings, according to Transport Focus’ most recent survey of passengers on June 19. The same survey also revealed that some people are concerned about non-compliance from fellow passengers.

“It seems most passengers are now covering up - a key factor, among others, in our research to getting passengers back on trains and feeling ‘safe’,” said TF Chief Executive Anthony Smith.

“However, a minority seem to be either donning a covering when getting on and off, or not wearing one at all. At some point we may have to move from education, enabling and encouraging to enforcement.

“Also, some passengers are exempt - making that clearer in communications and notices at stations would help those passengers travel with more comfort that they are not going to face ‘peer policing’ for not covering up.”

Q The full Statutory Instrument, including details of exemptions from the rules, are available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2020/592/introduction/made.