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Original poster

Have you travelled by train recently?

18 replies

ParisCactus · 27/07/2020 10:23

If you've taken a train somewhere in recent weeks, I'd love to hear your experience as I'm feeling anxious about having to take a train from London to South Wales in a couple of weeks time.
I have a pre-booked seat on the train. I know I will have to wear a mask and that's fine with me, but is social distancing enforced? Or is there even room to social distance or are intercity trains as busy as they have been in the past? Is the train company likely to have allocated other prebooked passengers in the seat next to me?
I haven't been on any kind of public transport since March so I have no idea what trains are like and feel a bit nervous about it. Driving is not an option unfortunately.

OP posts:

Alienin · 27/07/2020 10:33

I’m sorry, I haven’t. I’m a bit afraid of being told off for taking an unnecessary journey. I have got the tram and numerous buses which has been okay.

Remember, even though you have a booked seat, you can move if necessary. How are your anxiety levels? Are you travelling off-peak? I hear first class is a bit better for spaciousness.

amusedbush · 27/07/2020 10:33

I went into town on the train last weekend, my first time on public transport since last year (previously had an on-site parking space for work, so had access to city centre parking 24/7 - I miss it!).

I was only on the train for 15 minutes and I'd say 50% of people were wearing masks. In fact, when I was on the platform waiting for it to arrive I was the only mask wearer. The train wasn't busy so people were spread out but no, it wasn't enforced as there were no staff that I saw.

When I got off the train everyone swarmed the stairs and then the city centre itself looked like a normal Saturday afternoon - huge crowds and no distancing

saraclara · 27/07/2020 10:36

I've taken several 50 minute train journeys into and out of London. Some of the time I had a carriage to myself, but even the busiest trip had people at least 4-5 metres from each other. And everyone was wearing a mask.

I never felt worried at all.

saraclara · 27/07/2020 10:39

@amusedbush

When I got off the train everyone swarmed the stairs and then the city centre itself looked like a normal Saturday afternoon - huge crowds and no distancing

I am actually astonished at that. My trips were taken over the last 4 weeks, and I never saw anyone without a mask, either on the trains or on the (indoor)* station platforms.

*My home station is a rural one with only a small ticket office, and outdoor platforms, so of course no need for masks until boardning.

NotDavidTennant · 27/07/2020 10:40

In Wales we're still being encouraged to use trains for essential journeys only so the number of passengers is still lower than usual. The London-Cardiff/Swansea trains are also quite long so there is generally plenty of space for people to spread out.

saraclara · 27/07/2020 10:40

Oh...and a friend took an intercity train last week and said they had a carriage to themselves. So I think if anything they're quieter than my commuter line.

IrenetheQuaint · 27/07/2020 10:41

I've found the trains very quiet with 90%+ of people wearing masks.

Ditzyduck · 27/07/2020 10:46

I've taken a number of trains lately to our caravan in mid-wales and it's got a lot busier. The layout of the do not sit here on the seats doesn't make sense tho , I saw on one train u could sit directly behind someone yet about 8 seats around you couldn't sit. U can't sit next to each other even if you're together it's single seating ...
Tbh It was busy the other day I gave up trying to find a seat and stood by the doors
. My partner got the train a couple of Fridays ago on the evening and police came onboard and were fining people who didn't have a mask on or had took it down. However when he got into the border of Wales an announcement came across saying you didn't have to wear the mask due to Welsh guidelines being different to English. The guidelines changed today in Wales so hopefully more people will be wearing them.

JorisBonson · 27/07/2020 10:48

I've been travelling on the train to work all through lockdown (emergency services).

It was absolutely dead for the majority of lockdown but slowly getting busier. not everyone is adhering to the mask rules and my train doesn't have a conductor.

So far I've avoided anyone sitting next to me but I'm thinking that will change soon.

Clymene · 27/07/2020 10:52

There were 2 other people (together) in our carriage and everyone I saw was wearing masks

CatBatCat · 27/07/2020 10:58

I caught a train from the next town back home on late Sat night. I wasn't intending to but the bus wasn't turning up so I ran to the train station to make the last train home. It was pretty quiet and people were spaced out in the carriages. BTP came through the carriage before the train departed and told the people who weren't wearing masks to put them on. There was no tension even for a sat night just as the pubs were reopening, just people travelling home.

VioletCharlotte · 27/07/2020 10:59

I'm on a train right now on a 4 hour journey. It's fine, all feels very safe. You can only sit on the window seats so there's plenty of space. The train seems very clean and everyone I've seen is wearing a mask. You're allowed to eat and drink (and remove your mask to do so). The toilets are open on the train and at the station.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 27/07/2020 11:07

I went to the next town at the weekend. Not a long journey, sub 15 min. Everyone had mask and there was a BTP bizzy in the station patrolling. Very empty train.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/07/2020 11:43

Went from par to Truro this morning. Train empty!

SamSeabornforPresident · 27/07/2020 11:49

I got the train into town the other day with DH and the children (not London though). Utterly unnecessary journey. Everyone I saw on the train and in the station was wearing a mask. The train was very quiet so social distancing was easy but no seats appeared to be 'out of bounds' so I'm not sure how a busier train would be.

opinionatedfreak · 27/07/2020 11:56

I've used LNER a few times recently.

With the exception of one journey (just after lockdown released in England) there was good mask wearing & social distancing.

On lockdown release day a tonne of pissed people got on in Newcastle (travelling to Durham) and in Newark (travelling to London), in both situations these travellers failed to wear masks and crowded to sit down - not respecting seat reservations or travellers that were already in place for social distancing.

When I contacted LNER they issued a very weak response saying that they had no powers to enforce mask wearing or that people actually had a reservation on a given service.

So - it will most likely be OK, but might not be especially if there is football or it is after pub closing time.

Vanillaradio · 27/07/2020 12:02

I took a train journey last week- just 20 mins into the city centre and back .
On the way in I was the only person in the carriage. On the way back there were about 6 others. Everyone wore a mask and sat apart from one another. People were very respectful of distance on the platform. I am not sure if this would be the same or even possible with a busier train though.

Original poster

ParisCactus · 27/07/2020 20:54

Thank you all. I just have to get on with it I suppose. It's not a journey I do I often so I have no idea how crowded the trains usually are in "normal" times. I guess i just have to wear my mask and cross my fingers for an easy time.

OP posts:

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