Face coverings compulsory on public transport in England from 15 June

[Huntergreed]

So face masks forced in Scotland. I have anxiety so I believe I am exempt.

However still little word on Eurostar relaxing rules and even though I have anxiety they still discriminate?

Indeed, I would argue that Eurostar are completely discriminating, however I'm not sure what law applies to them, considering they link 4 countries.

 

[Gadget88]

It de-facto already has been in most shops. They might be managing crowds, but inside shops everyone is now pretty much without exception ignoring it.



French law, this has no exceptions, unfortunately. It was only introduced when the French made it law. I suspect it's something like "on any train arriving in and/or departing from French soil", a bit like a lot of air travel related law.

Yes that’s the issue. Will they relax it? I know Spain is less strict.

 

[ashkeba]

.
French law, this has no exceptions, unfortunately. It was only introduced when the French made it law. I suspect it's something like "on any train arriving in and/or departing from French soil", a bit like a lot of air travel related law.

The French decree of 11 May has one exception: identity checks. None for disability that I can see but French law is a maze.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

As it may be off topic (as this is about England), if you want talk about face coverings being made mandatory on Scottish public transport, I recommend you post in this thread I just created:

Face masks to be made compulsory on Scotland public transport

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53095104 After England, Scotland is next (out of all the 4 devolved governments of the UK) to make face masks compulsory on public transport.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[185143]

Exactly. My concern is not the introduction of masks but like the lockdown itself the lifting of the lockdown/face masks.

The problem is that risk averse people involved in the management of these things deciding that they won’t lift the requirement to wear masks until it is 100% safe (clue it’s never ever 100% safe).

However, like the lockdown the public will decide when they don’t won’t to put up with it for any longer. The problem here though is that they may decide to just not use public transport reversing decades of progress made by the transport industry to move to greener ways of getting around.

Indeed. I can get to work on a direct train in around 20 minutes, which is far more convenient than driving (and more importly parking.) And obviously I'm a rail enthusiast, though that's somewhat on the backburner at the moment.

I point blank refuse to use public transport whilst wearing a mask. So I'm now using my car on a daily basis to travel to work on a busy motorway and A-roads, potentially on a long term basis because the Government have pandered down to the Corona Moaners. Because, clearly, that is far safer for someone in one of the lowest risk groups than travelling un-muzzled in a carriage with single figures in it!

 

[Pete_uk]

A picture of two police officers on a train, minus a vital bit of PPE

 

[Bantamzen]

View attachment 79705
A picture of two police officers on a train, minus a vital bit of PPE

And sitting in a blocked off seat....

 

[Jayden99]

View attachment 79705
A picture of two police officers on a train, minus a vital bit of PPE

DELETE

 

[Gadget88]

Once again I have complained to LNER about there train managers using masks as fashion accessories and encouraging people to post selfies. I told them not everybody can wear one due to medical issues so they shouldn’t be glamourising these masks as some sort of fashion accessory.

 

[LowLevel]

Once again I have complained to LNER about there train managers using masks as fashion accessories and encouraging people to post selfies. I told them not everybody can wear one due to medical issues so they shouldn’t be glamourising these masks as some sort of fashion accessory.

It's a miserable proposition for most of us so why shouldn't people have some fun if they feel able. Just because you don't wish to join in doesn't mean everyone else has to be miserable. Making your mask at least a bit fun is a way of making it bearable.

 

[Gadget88]

It's a miserable proposition for most of us so why shouldn't people have some fun if they feel able. Just because you don't wish to join in doesn't mean everyone else has to be miserable. Making your mask at least a bit fun is a way of making it bearable.

Sure I get that but these masks cause me extreme distress others have said how strange people look too wearing them so they do cause distress.

 

[nlogax]

Once again I have complained to LNER about there train managers using masks as fashion accessories and encouraging people to post selfies. I told them not everybody can wear one due to medical issues so they shouldn’t be glamourising these masks as some sort of fashion accessory.

Um.. there are FAR more important things to be complaining about. That's a killjoy attitude if ever I've heard one.

 

[Gadget88]

Um.. there are FAR more important things to be complaining about. That's a killjoy attitude if ever I've heard one.

I have complained about the whole handling of this crisis. Cross country saying shops
Open don’t travel by train. Well don’t worry me and my wife will learn to drive and you have lost a passenger for good. They are happy whilst government pay for them to run empty but once that funding stops and walking rail passengers don’t come back.. I mean how many time’s has the East coast line been bailed out? Or Scotrail loses?

 

[nlogax]

I have complained about the whole handling of this crisis. Cross country saying shops
Open don’t travel by train. Well don’t worry me and my wife will learn to drive and you have lost a passenger for good. They are happy whilst government pay for them to run empty but once that funding stops and walking rail passengers don’t come back.. I mean how many time’s has the East coast line been bailed out? Or Scotrail loses?

Which are all things worth complaining about.

LNER encouraging mask selfies? Quite the opposite.

 

[PupCuff]

Sure I get that but these masks cause me extreme distress others have said how strange people look too wearing them so they do cause distress.

If the distress is causing you problems in your day to day life, have a chat with your GP. It isn't wasting their time, they'll often be able to direct or refer you to experts in that kind of thing who will be able to offer help & guidance. If you work, you may have access to some kind of employee support service who may also be able to signpost you to appropriate support with a shorter waiting time. Realistically there is no way in the short term you will be able to access a railway free of masks, I know you say driving to avoid the issue may help but equally there's no law to say that you couldn't encounter a load of people wearing masks say, walking down the street for instance. There's different strategies you can use to 'train' your mind for people wearing masks to bother you less.

I still get pretty bad issues (not relating to masks, other stuff) with depression/anxiety/distress etc but the counselling I had a few years back did help a lot.

 

[LowLevel]

Sure I get that but these masks cause me extreme distress others have said how strange people look too wearing them so they do cause distress.

I totally get that you hate them. That isnt an unusual sentiment. I'd rather see a few happy cheery ones in the mix than a constant parade of surgical masks which really does get a bit dystopian.

 

[Journeyman]

Get a life, it's a miserable proposition for most of us so why shouldn't people have some fun if they feel able. Just because you don't wish to join in doesn't mean everyone else has to be miserable. Making your mask at least a bit fun is a way of making it bearable.

Completely disagree. I'm fed up being jollied along into accepting completely unjustified limitations on my civil liberties.

 

[talldave]

Completely disagree. I'm fed up being jollied along into accepting completely unjustified limitations on my civil liberties.

Don't be. My other half went into London yesterday on the train, without mask and despite a number of police telling her she should be wearing a mask, they don't take any action when you don't. You don't have to carry any proof that you're allergic having your face covered.

 

[Journeyman]

Don't be. My other half went into London yesterday on the train, without mask and despite a number of police telling her she should be wearing a mask, they don't take any action when you don't. You don't have to carry any proof that you're allergic having your face covered.

That's not what I'm complaining about. I won't break the rules, I've got a scarf I'll use if I have to. It's the "yaaaay, isn't all of this fun???" propaganda I have a problem with.

 

[Llanigraham]

View attachment 79705
A picture of two police officers on a train, minus a vital bit of PPE

And?
I believe that Police are exempt whilst on duty.

And sitting in a blocked off seat....

Is she?
Looks like she's in the other one.

 

[greyman42]

I was on a cross country journey which was lightly loaded. About 50% of passengers were wearing masks and the train manager announced after every station that masks were mandatory on trains and on platforms and stations. No on board staff made any checks. When I alighted very few passengers were wearing them on York station.

 

[Huntergreed]

I was on a cross country journey which was lightly loaded. About 50% of passengers were wearing masks and the train manager announced after every station that masks were mandatory on trains

This is true

and on platforms and stations.

This is not, and it's an industry wide issue that needs to be addressed, as well as 'essential only'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is no sense in them being required on stations. These are large, often partly outdoor spaces where 2m distancing is easy when you consider the present very low level of usage.

 

[robk23oxf]

Once again I have complained to LNER about there train managers using masks as fashion accessories and encouraging people to post selfies. I told them not everybody can wear one due to medical issues so they shouldn’t be glamourising these masks as some sort of fashion accessory.

You seriously thought this was an issue?

 

[MikeWM]

There is no sense in them being required on stations. These are large, often partly outdoor spaces where 2m distancing is easy when you consider the present very low level of usage.

Exactly. I guess the idea is to make people more likely to do it, but I'm not sure that idea holds much water.

Plus, what about people going to stations to use facilities but not travelling, or just buying a ticket for future travel?

 

[DB]

The only quasi-logical reason to introduce masks was to coax an increase in passenger numbers (whether that actually works, or has the opposite effect, is a different matter!)

I agree. In my case it's going to be a major deterrent as I find masks extremely uncomfortable. I would now happily use the trains for short leisure journeys, but with this rule in place, not a chance - I'll plan on staying within walking distance of home.

Unfortunately I will at some point have to do some travelling for work - 90 minutes or so by train to our head office, with a change at Leeds, and similar or even longer to some of our other sites. If this rule remains in force for long I will be looking at getting a car - I hate travelling by car and have never owned one, but this could be the tipping point. I have a driving license, so there are no barriers to doing so if it becomes the least-worst option. I imagine there are many in a similar position, and if they buy a car a good few won't be going back to rail again when this is all over.

 

[Llanigraham]

I agree. In my case it's going to be a major deterrent as I find masks extremely uncomfortable. I would now happily use the trains for short leisure journeys, but with this rule in place, not a chance - I'll plan on staying within walking distance of home.

The Legislation does not state you have to wear a mask, it says you have to wear a "face covering".
Have you tried different things under that description?
And if you do insist on a mask, how many types have you tried?

 

[DB]

The Legislation does not state you have to wear a mask, it says you have to wear a "face covering".
Have you tried different things under that description?
And if you do insist on a mask, how many types have you tried?

I find anything along those lines uncomfortable.

The vague description of the requirement does rather suggest tokenism, though...

 

[greyman42]

The Legislation does not state you have to wear a mask, it says you have to wear a "face covering".
Have you tried different things under that description?
And if you do insist on a mask, how many types have you tried?

Anything that covers your nose and mouth while you breathe is unpleasant on along journey which is why people either pull them down or do not wear them at all.

 

[43066]

The Legislation does not state you have to wear a mask, it says you have to wear a "face covering".
Have you tried different things under that description?
And if you do insist on a mask, how many types have you tried?

My beard suffices as a face covering. It’s the only one I’ve ever worn, and the only one I’ll ever wear. Masks are way too dystopian for me.

Pink hi vi wearer: “you need a mask to join that train.”

Me: “No, I don’t, unless you’re going to drive it, instead of me?”

Pink hi vi wearer: “Oh”.

Ticket barrier is opened...

You have to look for the comedy in every situation. That’s all we have left, at the moment.