More than 500 refused travel by rail staff in Wales for not wearing face coverings as enforcement is stepped up

More than 500 people have been refused travel on trains in Wales during the last week for not wearing a face covering.

Enforcement has been stepped up by Transport for Wales (TfW) and British Transport Police (BTP), who are reminding customers of the need to wear face coverings on board all public transport services.

They said those failing to comply with the rules will not be allowed to travel and could be fined.

It became mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport on 27 July and over the past two weeks, staff and officers have initially encouraged people to wear a face covering for the protection of other customers and TfW staff.

However, they are now taking action against those who fail to comply without a valid exemption.

Welsh Government have recently removed a restriction which stated public transport should only be used for essential journeys, but wearing a face covering is compulsory throughout the Wales and Borders network.

There are some exceptions such as children under the age of 11, people who experience breathing difficulties, or those with a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability.

Travellers are encouraged to put on their face covering before entering stations and will be required to do so before boarding trains. A three-layer face covering is strongly recommended by the government.

Leyton Powell, Transport for Wales Rail Services Safety and Assurance Director, said: “The safety of customers and colleagues is our top priority. From 27 July we have deployed the 3E approach of engage, explain and encourage as we recognised the benefit of wearing face coverings in reducing the spread of coronavirus.

“This helps us to keep everyone safe who uses our services as the lockdown measures are relaxed.

“We are not seeing the levels of compliance on our services in all areas so we have had to make the tough decision for the safety of our customers and colleagues to move to step up our enforcement activity.

“In partnership with the British Transport Police we will be refusing travel for people who are not respecting these rules.

“This could also result in some travellers being asked to leave the train at stations before their intended destination and even fined by British Transport Police.”

Signs and cordons will remain in place on Transport for Wales trains and stations until further notice.

BTP Wales Chief Inspector Jon Cooze said: “The requirement to wear an appropriate face covering on all public transport services is an additional safeguard to enhance the requirement to maintain two-metres social distancing where it is possible to do so.

“BTP officers are on patrol across the network and will continue to work with TfW staff to help ensure all customers have a safe and confident journey.

“We are nonetheless prepared and determined to use the penalties available in the new Coronavirus Regulations where there is non-compliance or blatant disregard for these safer travel rules.”

TfW is asking all customers to please plan their journey in advance, maintain social distancing and not to travel if feeling unwell – all travel safer advice can be found at https://trc.cymru/travel-safer.

TfW has increased their security provision to work in partnership with BTP for enforcement purposes and has committed up to £150,000 of additional funding to bring in extra staff throughout the summer.