Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on the proportion of seats that can be safely occupied on a train; and how that matter is being enforced in the context of the covid-19 outbreak.

In line with the Government’s guidance on social distancing and safer transport, train operators have taken significant measures on their vehicles to support social distancing. All train operators are expected to carry out their own risk assessments on the most appropriate action to take, taking account of factors such as the design of different types of rolling stock. Some operators of long-distance services have limited capacity by selling only a set number of seats and requiring reservations. In addition, train operators have increased services levels as we move through the roadmap to provide additional capacity as demand increases.

Passengers are urged to check before they travel and to plan ahead, as transport services and roads are likely to be busier as restrictions ease. They are reminded to follow safer travel guidance when they travel, including wearing a face covering unless exempt, sanitising their hands regularly and keeping their distance where possible.