Passengers who engage in antisocial behaviour on buses could face fines of up to £100 under new government measures announced today, while a national rail campaign will target the growing problem of people playing music and videos aloud on trains.
New guidance issued to local authorities on 19 October outlines how councils can use powers introduced under the Bus Services Act 2025 to tackle nuisance behaviour on bus services. The measures will allow transport authorities to enforce local byelaws covering offences including loud music, littering, vaping and threatening behaviour.
Under the new framework, authorised officers, transport safety personnel and police officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £100. Bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcement.
Officers dealing with incidents will be expected to follow a three-stage process: engaging with passengers, explaining the rules and their impact on others, and taking enforcement action where individuals refuse to comply.
Alongside the bus measures, the government has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing so-called “loudcasting” on trains, where passengers play music, videos or other audio through phone speakers instead of using headphones.
The campaign, carrying the slogan “share the carriage, not the noise”, will be rolled out across rail operators through station announcements, onboard messaging, websites and social media channels.
Passengers who refuse requests from rail staff to stop playing audio out loud could be removed from services at the next station. Under existing railway byelaws, offenders can face fines of up to £1,000.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the campaign would address one of the most common frustrations reported by rail passengers.
“We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone. It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey,” he said.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said even relatively minor acts of antisocial behaviour could have a significant impact on the travelling public.
“It is so frustrating when the actions of an inconsiderate few spoil journeys for the rest of us, whether that is vaping, littering or blasting music out loud,” she said.
The government said the rail campaign would replace a patchwork of individual operator initiatives with a single national message across the rail network. Ministers argue that a more joined-up approach will help improve passenger experiences and reduce disruptive behaviour.
The powers allowing local transport authorities in England to introduce and enforce byelaws against nuisance behaviour came into force on 5 August 2026. Any local byelaws introduced under the scheme must receive approval from the Secretary of State before they can be enforced.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, welcomed the move, saying antisocial behaviour including loud music, shouting, littering and vaping can undermine passenger confidence and comfort across transport networks.
The measures have also been backed by transport campaign groups. Ben Plowden, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said antisocial behaviour can put some people off using public transport altogether, particularly passengers with accessibility requirements.
The government says the new enforcement powers and rail awareness campaign form part of wider efforts to improve everyday journeys and make public transport cleaner, quieter and safer for passengers.
