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Chronicle Live
National
Simon Meechan

LNER boss assures train journeys will be safe as non-essential travel ban lifted

Passengers are welcome back on trains in England for 'non-essential travel'.

The Government has removed a restriction which only allowed people to board trains in England for essential travel during the coronavirus pandemic.

It means the network is again open for tourists and day-trippers, as well as passengers who want to visit friends.

Passengers must do their bit to ensure safe travel, by wearing face coverings and sitting a safe distance apart from others.

Some operators, like the East Coast Mainline's LNER, will only let people board trains if they have a seat reservation.

LNER managing director David Horne appeared on Good Morning Britain, where he promised trains are a safe environment for customers.

David said: "It's a combination of things, the face coverings, the extra cleaning - we have more cleaners than we do drivers - and on this state of the art train the ventilation's very good.

"We're able to use that reservation system to ensure that people don't sit next to each other unless they're a family, that's really important."

Customers can book seats on LNER trains up to five minutes before travel. On-board catering services are still suspended, but the toilets and handwashing facilities are open. Face coverings must be worn in stations and on-board trains.

Speaking on Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "In England from today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available.”

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