Which is more dangerous; taxi or train?

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Relative (reasonably fit early 60s) needs to make a short journey. (Lift not possible so don't suggest it.) Can avoid busiest times of day.

Which would be worse - 25 minutes in a local cab (not black cab) or approx an hour on trains plus attendant hanging about at stations. Will obviously be wearing a mask, and BJ has just indicated masks now compulsory for cab drivers, iirc.

Science please!

I would say taxi: coming into contact with 1 person (and all my local firms have a plastic screen now to separate driver and passenger) rather than multiple.
Having read the replies, however, I think it's pretty evenly split risk-wise.

Your risk assessment should also include how many cases there are near you. If you live somewhere with consistently low incidence then neither option poses much risk at all - just do the cheapest or most convenient. If you're somewhere with rapidly rising cases or local restrictions then it's worth thinking about a bit more.

Ah ... Actually, they'd be crossing a border between areas of average and higher incidence ...

Tbh, given the number of new cases recorded today, neither option looks as viable or reasonable or necessary as it did even a week ago.

Taxi with the windows wide open, definitely! One (masked) person, separated from you with a screen in a well ventilated vehicle, versus however many dozens of people milling around a stuffy carriage?! It's a no-brainer!

I would have thought taxi was the obvious choice too. You could risk assess the taxi before getting on and check driver wearing mask, Windows open etc. I think that would be safe enough. Train there could be 10 or more people who pass you and no way of getting out if people were not to observe social distancing. With taxi the one driver is in a set position so that will be less stressful. I think chances of catching it like this are very slim. Good luck!

I agree it's not an easy decision! I would go for train, as with a car you have the additional risk of a car accident.

But the train could crash, that isn't a reason not to use a cab what sort of idiot comes out with this. I'd go with train personally .

I would go train every time if you can travel off peak. You can manage social distancing (I have travelled off peak train and the carriages were practically empty!). Sitting so close to someone who likely won't be in a mask wouldn't feel comfortable, especially in such an enclosed space.

Some (not all) of our private hire taxis in my home town have perspex screens and passengers have to travel in the back. Definitely ring round and see what they offer.

I have noticed that London bus drivers I have seen recently are not wearing masks. I think this might be because they can obscure your vision when driving, so some taxi drivers may be finding the same.