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”.

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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.”