What measures will the Welsh Government take to ensure compliance with COVID-rules on the wearing of face masks on the Maesteg to Cardiff rail route?
It continues to be the law in Wales that rail passengers must wear face coverings whilst on the train and in enclosed areas at stations, including passengers on the Maesteg to Cardiff route. Transport for Wales (TfW) are increasing their communications activity to raise awareness of the requirement to wear face coverings, including for passengers travelling across the border who may not be aware that the law differs in Wales. TfW have confirmed that this activity includes audio messages on trains and at stations, along with information provided on the TfW website and social media channels.
TfW work with the British Transport Police on the enforcement of coronavirus regulations and since the start of 2021 more than 50,000 people have been challenged across the Wales and Borders network for not wearing face coverings, with more than 2,000 people refused travel. TfW will continue to ensure that their staff actively promote, engage, and highlight the personal responsibility that all passengers must wear a face covering whilst travelling on TfW services, unless they are exempt.
TfW continue to monitor levels of compliance with passengers wearing face coverings. This monitoring has indicated lower levels of compliance on some cross border journeys. My officials and TfW continue to engage with Network Rail and Department for Transport officials to ensure that steps are being taken to improve compliance, such as station and platform information boards at key locations in England being used to inform passengers that face coverings are mandatory on all trains coming into Wales and to give those passengers an opportunity to source a face covering if they have forgotten before boarding the train.