Seventy-eight per cent of TfW passengers complying with face covering requirements

Credit: Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales (TfW) statistics have revealed that only 78 per cent of its rail customers are complying with government requirements by wearing face coverings on trains.

However, following new Welsh government policy, customers are now required to wear face coverings in all enclosed spacing, including in and on stations, platforms and in car parks.  

TfW is also urging its customers to wear their face coverings properly and are providing extra instructional advice. Those who are exempt from wearing a face covering have the option to be identified and helped through the Sunflower Lanyard Hidden Disabilities scheme, which TfW is proudly part of. 

It became mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport on 27 July 2020 and, since mid-August 2020, TfW have been working in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) to enforce this ruling. In the first week of September 2020, nearly 500 people were refused travel for failing to comply with the rules.

Safety and Assurance Director at Transport for Wales, Leyton Powell, said: “Our statistics reveal that we have now positively managed behavioural change on our train network as, on average, we’re seeing 78 per cent of people complying and wearing a face covering on TfW trains. The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority and I’d like to thank all those adhering to the rules.”

“In line with the rest of Wales, we’re now asking our customers who are not exempt to also wear a face covering while at our stations, on our platforms and in our car parks. These are extra safety measures that will allow us to keep operating safely,” he added.