Posted 8th June 2020 | 2 Comments

Rail union claims ‘confusion and conflict’ over facemasks

THE RMT has protested to the transport secretary that there is ‘confusion and conflict’ over the forthcoming changes to facemask rules on trains and other public transport from next Monday. The wearing of facemasks will become compulsory on all English public transport from 15 June, but the union’s general secretary Mick Cash has told Grant Shapps that ‘I am receiving representations from not only my members but also employers who are reporting high levels of concern and confusion over how these new arrangements will apply, who will be responsible for enforcement and what will be done to prevent conflict between passengers and staff.’ Meanwhile, a newspaper is claiming that train operators have been lobbying for the social distancing rule of 2m to be halved, to increase capacity when more shops are allowed to reopen next week. The Times reports ministers are being warned that official advice to only use public transport as a last resort will have ‘terrible long-term consequences for the industry and environment’.

Reader Comments:

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  • Jez Milton, Manchester

    The penny is finally dropping, though not at RMT!!.... "ministers are being warned that official advice to only use public transport as a last resort will have ‘terrible long-term consequences for the industry and environment".

    Those in the rail industry still deluding themselves that this isn't disastrous need to wake up to reality. Empty trains will only be subsidised for a matter of months, maximum. There are much better uses for it... e.g. social care and cycleways. Mothball routes until there's a vaccine.

  • Steve Alston, Crewe

    There are also enough RMT members who for some months have been desperately asking for this, and Cash should be commending Shapps for finally implementing this, however I don't think he's wrong in asking the DfT 'how do we go about this.....'