Scotland’s transport secretary has criticised a train company for saying there would be no social distancing on cross border services.
Michael Matheson said it was “unacceptable” LNER would not comply with Scottish guidance north of the border.
He was backed up by SNP Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson who compared the decision to the row over the Prime Minister ’s self-isolation from covid -19.
LNER, owned by the UK Government, operates services such as London’s King Cross to Edinburgh.
However, from today social distancing rules were scrapped for England, whereas in Scotland the guidance is for one metre in public places.
The diverging advice has led to questions on what should happen when a train enters one part of the UK from another.
In a tweet, LNER explained: “We have made the decision to operate under English guidance, with regards to social distancing on cross border services, to provide consistency to customers.
“Therefore, customers may be seated next to each other when travelling from 19 July onwards.”
Matheson responded: “This is unacceptable. @LNER services operating in Scotland should comply with the @scotgov public health guidance. I’ve asked Transport Scotland officials to address this point with LNER.”
Robertson added: “LNER is a train company owned by the UK Government. Is it still maintaining that when it operates in Scotland it is going to disregard Scottish public health and safety coronavirus rules? This is as tenable as Boris Johnson's exemption from social distancing regulations.”
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