{"id":380300,"date":"2025-08-28T12:26:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T12:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/380300\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T12:26:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T12:26:20","slug":"public-transport-passengers-in-london-urged-to-use-headphones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/380300\/","title":{"rendered":"Public transport passengers in London urged to use headphones"},"content":{"rendered":"

New TfL research suggests 70% of customers find loud music and phone conversations made in speaker mode disruptive, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"credit TfL<\/p>\n

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new campaign to encourage travellers to avoid playing content out loud on their devices.<\/p>\n

The transport authority is encouraging passengers on buses and trains to be considerate of others through a poster blitz, starting on the Elizabeth Line and expanding to other services such as the London Underground in the coming months.<\/p>\n

It comes after new TfL research found that 70% of customers find loud music and phone conversations made in speaker mode disruptive.<\/p>\n

Back in April, the Liberal Democrats went one step further and called for fines of up to \u00a31,000 for travellers who play loud music and videos on public transport. And this week the Conservatives announced they would seek changes to ensure operators give out on-the-spot fines to rowdy passengers.<\/p>\n

TfL already has the ability to fine so-called \u2018headphone dodgers\u2019 using a little-known byelaw. It states that no person on the railway \u201cshall, to the annoyance of any person, sing or use any instrument, article or equipment for the production or reproduction of sound\u201d.<\/p>\n

The only exception would be if TfL had given the individual written permission. Hence, travellers playing phone conversations or music out loud on any TfL services would contravene this law.<\/p>\n

Currently, enforcement officers are allowed to prosecute individuals who do not follow the rules. A TfL source confirmed to the LDRS that byelaws prohibit \u201cplaying music or streaming content aloud on the network without written permission\u201d.<\/p>\n

They added: \u201cWhen our enforcement officers encounter someone doing this, they will usually ask the individual to stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people comply at this stage. If someone refuses, further enforcement action may be taken \u2013 this could include being asked to leave the service or station, or being reported for possible prosecution.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a Freedom of Information request from May, there has not been a single prosecution around the byelaw relating to \u2018Using instrument to produce or reproduce sound\u2019 since 2019.<\/p>\n

While the right to prosecute exists, TfL says it often doesn\u2019t get that far.<\/p>\n

Where an enforcement team does notice a contravention of the law, they are told to take a \u201c4Es approach\u201d \u2013 engaging, educating and encouraging compliance with requirements, and then enforcement. The latter stage is only reached if there is a tantamount refusal to comply. This, according to TfL, yields the best results.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday (26th) some political groups on the London Assembly told the LDRS that they would like to see TfL go one step further and impose the rules to save the capital\u2019s commuters from overhearing unwanted music and conversations.<\/p>\n

Lib Dem group leader Hina Bokhari told the LDRS: \u201cIt was the Liberal Democrats who first called for action on noisy commutes \u2013 and now the mayor is pinching our ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as usual, he isn\u2019t going far enough. Londoners are sick of the noise \u2013 we need fines and enforcement, not posters and excuses. A few slogans on the tube won\u2019t deliver the peaceful journeys passengers deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, others were keen to see how TfL\u2019s strategy of \u201cencouraging courtesy\u201d would play out.<\/p>\n

Elly Baker, Labour\u2019s transport spokesperson on the London Assembly, said: \u201cNoise on public transport is a real nuisance. These are shared spaces and we need to be considerate of others. I welcome TfL\u2019s campaign to build a social norm against playing music out loud, just as we stand on the right of escalators.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnforcement should remain an option, but encouraging courtesy will make the biggest difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline Russell, Green Party London Assembly member, added: \u201cWe all share the same space when we travel and with that comes a shared responsibility to make it respectful and enjoyable for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying music or videos out loud might seem harmless, but it can be unsettling, especially for neurodiverse Londoners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about enforcing rules or rushing to punishment, but about encouraging small acts of kindness that can make a real difference to people\u2019s journeys.\u201d<\/p>\n

TfL confirmed to the LDRS that there will not be any extra enforcement officers roaming various services as a result of this campaign. Instead, the aim is to raise awareness and reduce noisy behaviour across the network on a largely voluntary basis.<\/p>\n

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