New £100 Fines for Loud Music and Vaping on Buses

New government regulations allow local authorities to issue fines of up to £100 to passengers engaging in antisocial behaviour on public transport. The measures target loud music, vaping, and littering on buses and trains as part of a national campaign.

Bus Passenger Penalties

Under the new rules, passengers found littering, playing music or videos loudly from devices, vaping, or displaying threatening behaviour on buses can receive a fixed penalty of £100. These powers for bus enforcement were established by the Bus Services Act 2025, enabling all local transport authorities in England to set and enforce their own rules. However, bus drivers will not be responsible for issuing these fines. Instead, authorised officers, including Transport Safety Officers and the police, will handle enforcement.

Rail Passenger Consequences

For rail passengers, the consequences for antisocial behaviour can be more severe. If asked to cease such behaviour by authorised rail officers and they refuse to comply, passengers could face fines reaching up to £1000. This applies to actions such as playing music loudly, taking phone calls on loudspeakers, littering, or vaping.

Campaign Aims

The initiative is part of the government's 'share the carriage, not the noise' campaign, which aims to improve journeys for all passengers. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the campaign reminds passengers to use headphones and grants local leaders new powers to address disruptive behaviour. Announcements are expected to be broadcast across publicly owned rail networks reminding passengers to be considerate of others in shared spaces.

The campaign will be implemented across all publicly owned operators and Department for Transport-contracted operators, including Great Western Railway, East Midlands Railway, Avanti West Coast, and CrossCountry.