Thursday, 6 August 2020
East Midlands Railway (EMR) is urging passengers to stay safe this weekend as temperatures are predicted to rocket across the country.
As well as making sure they wear a face covering, passengers are also being advised to leave plenty of time for their journey, bring along a water bottle and avoid the busiest trains where possible.
Due to social distancing restrictions, EMR has limited space on board its trains and some of its most popular services may be busy. Passengers are advised to check its online Seat Finder tool and consider using a less popular train if possible.
To maintain distance between passengers, the train operator may also introduce a queuing system at some stations, and in extreme cases, passengers may not be able to travel on their first choice train.
Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “If the weather forecasts are to believed, the next few days will be very hot and we are looking forward to helping passengers make the most of it. However, we understand that people may be anxious about travelling at the moment and hot weather can sometimes make people feel more uncomfortable – especially when they are required to wear a face covering."
“That is why we are asking passengers to help us by making sure they are prepared for the heat and the other measures that are required when they travel by train at the moment. If you are using our services over the next few days, please make sure to leave plenty of time for your journey, remember to bring a face covering, and if possible, carry a water bottle. Please also be considerate of others by keeping a safe and sensible distance from other customers and our colleagues.
“We want all our passengers to enjoy the glorious weather predicted over the next few days and I hope with a few simple steps we can all stay safe this summer.”