London: Passengers who play loud music on buses in England could face fines of up to £100 under new government measures aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour and improving public transport journeys.
The proposed crackdown also targets littering, vaping and threatening behaviour across public transport services. Local authorities will be able to introduce rules allowing fixed penalties for offenders, subject to approval by the Transport Secretary.
The government has issued new guidance to councils on using powers introduced earlier this year to tackle disruptive behaviour on buses. Bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcing the rules. Instead, authorised officers, including Transport Safety Officers and police, will handle incidents.
On rail services, existing regulations allow passengers who refuse to stop playing loud music when instructed to be removed from trains or fined up to £1,000.
The government is also launching a national campaign urging rail passengers to ‘share the carriage, not the noise.’ The message will appear on train operator websites, social media platforms and inside carriages, replacing inconsistent approaches across different rail operators with a unified campaign.
Improving travel experience
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander remarked that small changes in passenger behaviour could significantly improve the travel experience. Campaigners have welcomed the measures, although questions remain about how effectively they will be enforced.
Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, described the crackdown as a positive step but called for urgent action to address violence, threats and abuse against passengers and transport workers. She also stressed the importance of increased funding for British Transport Police.
Michael Solomon Williams of the Campaign for Better Transport said antisocial behaviour could discourage people from using public transport, particularly those with accessibility needs. However, he questioned whether local authorities would have sufficient enforcement support.
Opposition representatives also raised concerns about implementation. Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden highlighted rising assaults against railway staff, while Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Olly Glover stated that the rules would be ineffective without funding for transport safety officers.
Transport Focus noted that its June research found that four in 10 passengers had felt vulnerable while travelling because of antisocial behaviour. The watchdog said reducing nuisance activities, including loud music and vaping, could improve passenger confidence and encourage greater use of public transport.
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