TRANSPORT groups have welcomed the government decision to make face coverings mandatory on public transport.

A number of transport organisations have praised the step to make face coverings compulsory on public transport in England from June 15.

Coverings must be worn on buses, trams, trains, coaches, aircraft and ferries.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said 'every precaution' must be taken as passenger numbers were expected to increase when lockdown measures were eased further.

Robert Parker, of the Furness Line Action Group (FLAG), welcomed plans to make face coverings a requirement on trains.

He said: "In my opinion, this is something which should have been done a while ago.

"It should've been brought in when the lockdown first came into place.

"It's definitely a sensible thing to do and I hope people listen to the rules to prevent a second wave of the virus."

Those that are caught without a face mask on public transport may be subject to a fine.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Wearing face coverings on trains will help to ensure that those who need to travel by rail can do so with confidence.

"Greater use of face coverings will boost the other measures we are putting in place to keep people safe, like more thorough cleaning, improved information on potential crowding and one-way systems at busier stations.”

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport, representing bus operators including Stagecoach, said: "Buses are already safe to use as operators have introduced enhanced cleaning regimes alongside other measures including restricting capacity, but making face coverings mandatory will give more passengers the confidence to travel.

"We will need passengers to work with us and wear their own face covering to comply with this new requirement.

"We will also work with the Government on its implementation, including increasing capacity in the network and maximising the value of the bus in safely restarting our economy and daily life."