Legal COVID restrictions set to change from 19th July

You will probably have heard in the news that Monday 19th July has been dubbed “freedom day” (even though its not really) and most legal restrictions introduced earlier in the pandemic. Although legally things such as the wearing of face masks in enclosed areas will be removed the government advice remains firmly that they should be worn and this includes when travelling on public transport. Some public transport operators and museums/heritage lines have also gone a step further by keeping this requirement mandatory. In this summary article we take a look at what various tramways and museums/heritage lines have said about the situation from 19th July.

Blackpool Tramway

It has been announced that restricted seating on board the service trams will bee removed from 19th July and that standing passengers will be allowed where there is appropriate space. While face coverings are not mandatory Blackpool Transport are recommending that you continue to wear them on board the trams (and buses) as at busy times you will either be seating next to or standing close to other passengers.

Passengers are also being encouraged to buy ticket through the Blackpool Transport app although cash fares are available as a last resort on board the trams.

This relates to the core service, details of Heritage Tram Tours have not been given at this time.

Crich Tramway Village

The measures at the museum have been updated as from Monday 19th July:

  • The wearing of face coverings will remain mandatory on all enclosed trams and compartments and recommended for open trams and indoor areas.
  • Visitors are recommended to maintain social distancing
  • All tram rides will start at Town End but no longer need to be pre-booked at admissions. You will be able to alight at Wakebridge or the Bandstand on the way back only – no alighting at Glory Mine will be permitted. Tram crew will advise visitors where to sit and all seats on the tram will be available although you will still be asked not to sit next to someone or directly opposite someone from a different group.
  • The indoor soft play area will remain closed.
  • The Access Tram should be pre-booked at least one week in advance by emailing enquiry@tramway.co.uk.
  • You are recommended to pre-purchase tickets online before visiting.
  • Contactless payments should be made where possible (and ice creams should be paid for in either Barnett’s Sweet Shop or The Forge Gift Shop before collecting your ice creams from the ice cream parlour).

Full details of the measures in place at Crich – which will be reviewed again at the end of August – are available at https://www.tramway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Covid-19-Up-date-Easing-of-Restrictions-1.pdf.

Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink

Transport for London have confirmed that face masks will remain mandatory on their networks from 19th July, unless you are exempt.

Manchester Metrolink

The wearing of face masks will remain mandatory on all Manchester Metrolink services – unless exempt.

Seaton Tramway

Having used a survey to find out visitor opinions at the end of last week, the tramway have now updated their COVID safe policies:

  • All visitors will be invited to wear a face covering when visiting the tramway. Face coverings are recommended in all indoor spaces and on trams and must be worn in all enclosed trams and compartments.
  • Hand sanitising stations will be present at all entrance and exits.
  • Sneeze guards and screens will still be present at all till points.
  • Strict cleaning of all stations and trams will continue, along with daily staff temperature checks.
  • Capacity on trams will no longer be restricted for standard service trams

Full details of the COVID response at Seaton Tramway is available at https://www.tram.co.uk/our-covid-19-response

Tyne and Wear Metro

The Conditions of Carriage for travelling on the Tyne and Wear Metro have been updated to make the wearing of masks when on the network mandatory.

It should be remembered that the change in law regarding face coverings relates to England only at this stage.

This article contains details of those tramways/museums which have announced their plans as from Monday 19th July. You are advised to check before attempting to travel for any changes at other locations. And please remember that the recommendation does remain to wear face masks when on public transport.

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