Train travel

I travel one hour journey by train to go to my hometown. I am really afraid of the crowd on the train. After I went home I am self quarantines until 2 weeks. I have no health issues. Then I come outside. Thank god.

Both my son and I have made long journeys recently because of visiting mum / grandma who is not at all well. Both coming from different places. There were fewer trains, and you have to have a reservation on LNER, you can do it on line and you can change them if done in enough time and there is space . But the trains were so much quieter everyone was masked and they were on time. Both journeys were not at usually busy times though

As a cyclist, l get often stuck at the gates with trains crossing, and am still constantly amazed at nearly every carriage being empty. There is the odd person here and there, and time-wise, it's usually late morning to mid afternoon when l cross the tracks.
With that in mind, perhaps it's not so terrifying being on a train, as l first thought.
I am in West Sussex, so if l needed to, l would not be too scared to travel thus. For the biggest danger seems to be surfaces, door handles, hand rails etc.
Basically, it's your call, but at the times mentioned above, it would seem to be eminently do-able.

We travelled by train yesterday to Leeds and it was fine! Everyone in masks, distanced, clean carriages and it felt safe. I say just go for it

I travelled a short distance on a local train recently and was disappointed that out of the other 5 people who got on at my station, only one wore a mask. The return trip was much the same. Everyone is wearing a mask in the shops here but the very few train passengers were much further apart than shoppers are.
I have to travel to central London for a hospital appointment next week so hope it is not too busy. It's a local suburban route so can't be booked.

Regarding seating: family groupings of 4 were not allowed to sit together. Couples had to split up, one( window seat) in each set of double seats. This was necessary to allow the aisle seats to remain empty so people could walk up and down aisles and retain some distancing from others.

Consequently, even the 4seaters only had a maximum of two people sitting opposite each other on window seats, and they had to be on the same family. This is what we did.

We made a 3 1/2 hour journey Euston to Oxenholme a week ago to see our daughter who was recovering from an operation. We had not seen her since New Year and were keen to spend a couple of days with her.. Although nervous about the journey, we were pleasantly surprised. We had booked seats and were glad to learn that all the aisle seats were to be left empty so spacing was good. Equipped with disinfectant, gloves, masks and visors , we had a pleasant journey both ways. Masks were mandatory, even before the legal date.

I second what others said about wiping down surfaces again (we had a table ) but also suggest you avoid travel on Fridays and Sundays. We returned on Monday and the train was only 10% full.

If you choose to travel, take all the precautions. It is also worth investing in a visor to add to the mask.

G65, thanks. Never thought of booking two seats together but, as Nannan says, I had assumed adjacent seats would be left empty. Must check this out too.

Meant therefore NOT booking)

I doubt theyll be booking in two different people in seats together who are not travelling together(& therefore booking together) as they have to 'space out' the passengers dont they?

Last week I travelled from Euston to Glasgow and back. On the return journey I was the only person in the whole of first class! I felt completely safe (wore a mask) - staff constantly cleaning surfaces door panels etc. I do hope more people bite the bullet and travel or else what will happen to our train services? They can’t be subsidised for ever! Unless you feel your health issues are too serious to risk then I would say take all reasonable precautions but otherwise get travelling especially while infection rates are low. Who knows what the winter will bring?

The old war-time poster comes to mind: Is your journey really necessary?

If it is, wear a mask, take hand disinfectant with you and some cloths so you can wipe down things like door handles.

I would feel tempted to reserve two seats, so I was certain of not sitting beside a total stranger.

I have had to shield over the past months and have now been given a hospital appointment at the hospital - a short bus ride away. Today = a little in advance of shielding being lifted I am contemplating going to the local shops for a few things. I feel rather nervous - like a new girl -I have the masks and sanitiser at the ready, Good luck OP, I advise going on the train and taking all the precautions. I will think of you as I sally forth. We will all have to live with a measure of risk I think.

I'm keen to get to London. First toyed with upgrading to 1st class in the hope of better spacing but realise this is erroneous with gaps being engineered by rail companies. Simply do not think I could manage a mask for four plus hours solid. I've only managed half an hour so far and not with great ease. I comply, of course, but am curtailing these visits hugely. I'm now toying with using the sleeper service but will have to investigate the Covid safety requirements first. What I read here of rail travel is decidedly encouraging. Thank you all for reporting back.

If possible get a Senior Rail Card, book well in advance for good price on first Class then you will have more space and can reserve a single seat at off peak travel time - again more space.

I make a 2 week travel from croydon to west sussex.salvation army business.even though i am exepmt from wearing a face mask .i do wear a face visor and i clean where i sit.apart from that its ok.i have noticed a lot of people without masks.i usually ask wheres your mask .they look at mr and say its against my religion.so i say its not against mine to be protected from idiots like you.plain selfish.

A question of balance here - it’s summer and people have been shut away for several months - the mental health outcomes of fear and isolation are now coming to light and for those who yearn for a holiday one by train in the U.K. is safer than one by plane to somewhere else. Masks are required to be worn on all public transport and living in London I see them being worn in the street as well especially now as people must wear them in the shops - on a train as well as a mask you can wear a face visor which is an added layer of protection and there are windows that can be opened in trains so all in all there’s a good chance of fresh air circulating.

I have Bronchiectasis and would not use public transport yet. I am longing to but would prefer to come out of this unscathed!
That is just me, you know the area you live and what to expect. The decision is ultimately yours!

I thought the government had said everyone had to wear masks on all public transport.

Have used trains and buses in my suburban area for some while now, once I was the only passenger on the bus for the entire 10 minute journey! I put on my mask and use sanitiser a lot, I feel I need to try to get back to some semblance of normality.

I'm off to Broadstairs househunting at the end of August, thanks for your reassuring posts.

I think Illte has identified the risk factors very well.

I personally would avoid using public transport if you can, given your health conditions and the high risk they place you under.

The primary risk is from airborne transmission not touching surfaces although that also poses a risk too.

A high risk comes in public transport because the virus can remain indoors in unventilated areas for several days.

However if you do have to travel wear a mask, take antibacterial gel and try to sit in a ventilated area.

Good luck

My DIL travelled from the SW of England to the Midlands by train a couple of weeks ago and she said that the further north she went, the fewer the people wearing masks. She felt very vulnerable. Maybe now it has been made law to wear face coverings in shops, more people will be prepared to wear them in public generally. I still won't risk using public transport for a long time yet.

I travelled from London to Hove and back last week, no problem on the train at all almost had the carriage to myself With nearly everyone wearing masks . I used hand gel a lot and tried not to touch doors etc . Washed my hands immediately on arriving at my destination.If you choose your time to travel late morning / early afternoon it should be fine . However on the tube return journey I was annoyed that a large number of people had their masks fashionably placed under their chins ready to pull up over their faces if challenged . I was able to keep a good distance fortunately .

I had no choice but to get train from london to up north as mum broke hip. I was anxious but it was much better than I thought.
Toilets at Euston station clean and if you wear throw away gloves you can bin them and put on another pair until you are in seat on train. I wiped table seat arms plug socket etc, wear masks and visor. Seat spacing is very good and you can’t board without booking in advance.