Railways: Coronavirus

(asked on 16th July 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to ensure passenger and staff safety on the rail network, in the context of the fourth step of the covid-19 roadmap.


Answered by
Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait
Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This question was answered on 26th July 2021

The success of vaccine deployment has paved the way for the gradual lifting of restrictions. Whilst many of the legal restrictions that the Government has imposed during the pandemic have been lifted at Step 4 of the roadmap, cautious guidance remains. Guidance sets out that the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.

Throughout the pandemic, the Department has continued to work with the rail industry to ensure passenger confidence remains high. The Government has published updated Safer Travel guidance which sets out steps operators can take to identify risks arising from COVID-19, which should inform decisions on controls put in place to keep passengers safe and maintain and increase passenger confidence. Such measures can include increasing the ventilation and airflow through vehicles and carriages where possible, continuing with increased cleaning regimes, in particular around high focus touch points, as well as encouraging and recommending the use of face coverings.

The safety of passengers and staff has been a priority for the Department throughout the pandemic. The Government has published updated Safer Travel guidance which sets out steps operators can take to identify risks arising from coronavirus, which should inform decisions on controls put in place to keep passengers and rail staff safe. Such measures can include increasing the ventilation and airflow through vehicles and carriages where possible, continuing with increased cleaning regimes, in particular around high focus touch points, as well as encouraging and recommending the use of face coverings. The Government has also published guidance for passengers which advises people on how to keep themselves, fellow passengers, and staff safe while travelling.

Since the start of the pandemic, travel patterns have shifted significantly. The Department is working with industry partners to develop attractive timetables that reflect changing travel habits, deliver excellent performance, and offer good value for money for the taxpayer. As we are implementing a further easing of restrictions, the industry will continue to collaborate to ensure key flows, including commuter routes, benefit from appropriate levels of service.

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