Protecting Your Health While Travelling by Train

Public transport in the UK has always been well-used, and trains especially so; they are the backbone of public transport infrastructure, and more relevant than ever in a world of rising fuel prices. As more people ditch expensive-to-run cars for a convenient form of transport, trains can become a worrisome prospect for those concerned about or shielding from coronavirus. What steps could you take to remain safe while travelling by train?

Buy Tickets Online

One of the key principles to keeping safe from pathogens is the reduction of both physical and social contact. With train travel, much of this can take place when attempting to buy tickets at the station: you have to talk to a ticket attendant or interact with a touchscreen and receive a physical ticket in the process.

Thankfully, it is easier than ever to buy a ticket online nowadays. Instead of queueing at a kiosk or ticket machine, you can use apps or online portals to buy your tickets in advance. In doing so, you receive a digital version of your ticket you can use to scan in and out of stations, limiting direct contact with services and preventing you from needlessly exposing yourself to potential viral load.

Use the Far End of the Train

Buying a ticket in person can seem trivial in comparison to the stresses of boarding the train itself; the volume of people that embark, coupled with the number of surfaces with which you have to engage to ride safely and comfortably, can instil concern in those attempting to mitigate their chances of catching a virus. But with a little forward planning, it is possible to make riding the train the safest part of your journey.

For starters, planning around peak commute times can help greatly - if you are commuting, you could see about shifting your working hours in order to miss peak travel times. But the most impactful thing you can do to stay safe on the average train journey is to situate yourself at the far end of the platform you’re embarking from. Other travellers are less likely to move as far up as you, meaning there will be less competition for space in the area of the train you’ll be closest to.

Wear a Face Mask

Lastly, face masks remain the most effective way to mitigate the risk of catching coronavirus; the virus is primarily passed via airborne water droplets, with surface transmission a much less common route to infection. Continuing to wear a mask can significantly reduce the possibility of coming into contact with airborne pathogens, making you safer even on busier trains.