Minister had to ‘remind’ train conductor to tell passengers masks are still mandatory in Wales

A Welsh minister has said that she had to “remind” a conductor to tell passengers that masks are still “mandatory” on trains in Wales.

Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, was speaking in the Senedd when she made the comments.

Griffiths who is the MS for Wrexham, says she was making a journey from the north of Wales at the time, which crossed into England.

She was responding to a question by Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan who said she’d “received several complaints” about people who are “very concerned that they don’t feel safe on the trains at the moment.

Fychan suggested that there “inconsistency” on Transport for Wales’ services when it comes to making “announcements” to passengers about wearing a mask.

Though face coverings are still mandatory in Wales, they are not in England.

Heledd Fychan, asked: “May I also ask the Minister for Climate Change for an update on the inconsistency that we see in terms of Transport for Wales services, in terms of announcements with regard to the importance of wearing face coverings?”

“I have received several complaints from people being very concerned that they don’t feel safe on the trains at the moment, and I would be grateful to know what is being done to ensure that the announcements are consistent and that the messages are entirely clear in terms of how vital these are.”

‘Absolutely vital’ 

Lesley Griffiths responded: “I think it is absolutely vital that Transport for Wales continue to have announcements and to ensure that people are wearing face coverings. I know the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is certainly working with Transport for Wales around that.

“I came down by train yesterday from north Wales. I had to ask the conductor to remind people that a mask was mandatory in Wales, because you’ll appreciate coming down from Wrexham you cross into England.

“I have to say, when he asked people, they all put their masks on, every single one of them. So, people are making the choice, or maybe they don’t know it’s mandatory in Wales.”