The corona incidence is increasing sharply. For this reason alone, the boss of the DB Regio subsidiary wants to adhere to the mask requirement for passengers. He’s not the only one.
Buses and trains are getting fuller. In order to maintain the confidence of passengers in local public transport in view of the increasing number of corona cases, the head of the DB Regio subsidiary, Jörg Sandvoss, has called for the mask requirement to be continued at least until Easter.
“The masks are worn consistently,” he told the German press agency at an industry meeting in Frankfurt am Main. In the summer of 2020 there was an even bigger problem with mask refusers in large cities.
“It’s gone. The acceptance of the masks is extremely high. That is why it is important for us, if the pandemic situation now expires, that there are at least regulations that we maintain the mask requirement in public transport in the winter season until Easter, ”said Sandvoss. The mask contributes to the feeling of security.
Utilization again at 70 to 80 percent
The utilization of the means of transport is now back at 70 to 80 percent of the pre-crisis level. For Sandvoss, this is a sign that confidence in the safety of public transport has returned. In the country it is a little less, in the cities, on the other hand, there are sometimes more than 80 percent of the passenger volume. “We have invested a lot in additional hygiene and safety.”
The individual federal states actually decide on the mask requirement in public transport. In the autumn of last year and in the spring, however, they agreed on uniform rules for buses and trains together with the federal government. Since then, passengers across the country have had to wear an FFP2 mask when using public transport. Individual federal states have since weakened the regulations. A surgical mask is then sufficient.
“The more passengers return, the more important it is that we maintain the hygiene and protective measures until the pandemic is defeated,” agreed the President of the Association of German Transport Companies, Ingo Wortmann, the DB regional boss. “It is important, however, that the mask requirement for both passengers and transport companies is regulated as uniformly as possible nationwide.”
Minister Scheuer: Repeal would be “counterproductive”
The outgoing Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer also spoke out in favor of keeping the rules. “In view of the currently increasing incidence, a lifting of the mask requirement in local public transport or long-distance passenger rail transport would be completely counterproductive.” The hygiene and safety measures decided jointly by the federal government, the federal states, professional associations and experts have proven their worth. “But of course we will keep an eye on the development of the epidemic situation so that we can adjust the precautionary measures at the appropriate time.”
Another point of contention with the mask requirement has always been the question of controls. Security services and the federal police also provide support. As a rule, however, this task falls to the train attendants. “The number of insults, assaults and physical injuries are increasing alarmingly at DB Regio,” said Ralf Damde, member of the national board of the railway and transport union.
In connection with violations of the mask requirement, there are regular disputes. “That is why we urge the employer to do significantly more to ensure the safety of the train crew.” The bus and train staff are “no masked police”.
The railway plays an important role in the federal government’s climate goals. For this reason alone, politics and the industry are keen to shift a lot of traffic back to public transport as quickly as possible. “On the weekends we’re almost back to the level we were before Corona,” said Sandvoss. Significantly more excursion and leisure traffic is recorded in local traffic. “What we are still missing at the moment are the passengers to the football games, Christmas markets, Oktoberfest – for us these are always major battle days, on which everything rolls that is there.”
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
