SCOTRAIL conductors have been told not to sell tickets to keep the country’s railway running.
On-board sales have been suspended to lessen the chance of frontline staff on the nation’s railways contracting Covid-19.
Travellers can still buy at stations, and online and all trains will still run with on-board staff – with a reduction in services possible as more and more people stay at home.
Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to avoid public transport where possible and ScotRail said its rule on avoiding “unnecessary contact” – which is backed by the RMT union – is “aimed at protecting our own people and our customers”.
READ MORE: ScotRail receives complaint after train used to move body
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “Following the latest government guidance, we will not be able to sell tickets on trains, to avoid any unnecessary risk for our own people and our customers. However, customers require a valid ticket to travel on our services and that requirement has not changed.
“Buying a ticket before you board remains the best method of doing that, whether it be online, at a ticket office, or at a ticket machine at our stations.”
But Mick Hogg, RMT officer for ScotRail, says the restrictions must also apply to gateline staff manning station barriers.
He said: “These staff members are still expected to take passengers’ tickets out of the machines when they become stuck and carry out checks. We need to allow the public to go through the gates with visual checks only.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel