HRA TO ‘SEEK CLARITY’ OVER DfT FACE COVERING RULES
STOP PRESS: Government says new public transport legislation also encompasses steam.
The Heritage Railway Association is “seeking urgent clarity” from the Government over whether passengers on preserved lines and main line charters will be forced to wear face coverings, under new coronavirus rules from the Department for Transport.
The DfT announced on June 12 that, from June 15, “everyone must wear a face covering when travelling by public transport in England.” Although not generally recognised as public transport, a DfT spokesperson confirmed to Steam Railway that the new rules also apply to passengers “travelling on heritage railways and on steamhauled main line charters.” The DfT further clarified that “charter services, if available to the public, are included in the definition of public transport for the purposes of these regulations.
“These regulations ensure the requirement to wear a face covering will be applied consistently to all relevant modes of public transport, where passengers may find it more difficult to maintain social distancing (for example, when passing by other passengers)”, but adding that “there is a specific exemption for passengers who reasonably need to eat or drink.”
Some railways have expressed concern that such a requirement for passengers to wear face coverings as and when they re-open might negatively impact business, because it is argued that potential visitors could be put off by the requirement, as well as making it impractical to run dining trains – something that could also have consequences for main line operators who rely heavily on the dining market (see Down Main).
In response to the DfT’s rules, Heritage Railway Association CEO Steve Oates said: “Our preferred position is that face coverings be discretionary for heritage rail operators. For example, some railways with both open carriage stock and compartment stock consider face coverings essential for open stock, but unnecessary for individual compartment stock.
“We are therefore seeking urgent clarity from Government through both the DfT and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as to whether face coverings are in fact needed and required for heritage railways, or whether they can be kept as a measure to be used at the discretion of the individual railways.”
The HRA is also lobbying Government for a reduction to the two-metre social distancing rules, as the “overwhelming view” from HRA member railways was that “such a reduction will significantly improve the financial viability of heritage railways and greatly bolster their confidence when developing their reopening plans,” said Mr Oates.
He added: “The current restrictions introduced by social distancing guidelines of a minimum of 2m means that train passenger capacity is significantly reduced. Reducing passenger capacity makes trains uneconomic and many heritage railways are in difficulty with any social distancing.
“Trains may run but reduced passenger capacity means reduced fare income and, at the significantly lower level currently permitted, this lower income does not cover the cost of operating. There is thus the risk of either running at a loss, which is unsustainable, or withdrawing services altogether.
“While there is benefit in reducing restrictions to 1m, any distancing has a marked negative impact on the ability of heritage rail to operate and to remain financially viable. In practical terms, moving from 2m to 1m will be immensely helpful in securing the financial viability of heritage rail.
“It could also determine whether or not a meaningful ‘Santa experience’ can be operated which, for some heritage railways, can contribute 25-30% of their annual income. And some railways consider on-train dining also becomes viable with reduced social distancing.”