What are the Possible Consequences of Continued Passenger and Public Mistreatment of UK Railways and How to Address the Problem.
Mark Dickinson
(HSE, NEBOSH CERT, LCGI) EMR Regional Fleet Train Presentation Manager at East Midlands Railway, driving innovation in train presentation.
The UK railway system is a vital part of the country's transportation infrastructure, connecting millions of passengers daily. However, ongoing issues with passenger mistreatment of trains—such as vandalism, littering, fare evasion, and improper use of onboard facilities—threaten the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of this essential service.
If such behaviour continues unchecked, I personally believe it could lead to severe consequences, including increased maintenance costs, reduced service quality, and higher fares for all passengers. To prevent this, targeted solutions must be implemented to encourage responsible use of the railway system.
The Impact of Passenger Mistreatment
1. Increased Maintenance Costs: Vandalism, such as graffiti, broken seats, and damaged doors, results in significant repair expenses. These costs are often passed on to passengers and the public as increased taxes and also in the form of higher ticket prices or reduced investment in service improvements.
2. Service Disruptions: Littering and improper use of train facilities can lead to mechanical failures, delays, and even train cancellations. Blocked toilets, for example, may require carriages to be taken out of service for cleaning and repairs.
3. Safety Concerns: Disorderly behaviour, fare evasion, and acts of aggression not only create an unpleasant environment but also put passengers and railway staff at risk. Items thrown at trains and onto track are simply life threatening as can be seen clearly in a recent event (case in question). This can lead to stricter security measures, which in turn cause inconvenience for all travellers and additional disruption.
4. Decline in Passenger Experience: A poorly maintained and disrespected railway environment discourages passengers from using the service, potentially leading to reduced revenue and further cutbacks in service frequency and coverage.
How to Correct the Problem
To mitigate these issues, a combination of stricter enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced security measures should be implemented.
1. Stronger Penalties and Enforcement: Increasing fines for vandalism, fare evasion, and antisocial behaviour can serve as a deterrent. More transport police officers and CCTV surveillance on trains and platforms can help ensure compliance with regulations. However this will only work if penalties are strong and prosecutions are followed through. Enforcement needs to be ongoing and consistent nationwide because there needs to be repercussions for bad and destructive behaviour including paying for any damages caused and maintenance required.
2. Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating passengers about the impact of their behaviour through posters, announcements, and social media campaigns can help foster a sense of responsibility and encourage self-policing among travellers.
3. Improved Onboard Facilities: Ensuring that waste bins, toilets, and seating areas are well maintained. Trains should not only be clean, they should also look structurally immaculate and not tired and worn out. If passengers see well-kept trains, they may be more inclined to respect them.
4. Community Involvement: Engaging local communities and schools in railway preservation initiatives can help instil a culture of respect for public transport. Programs that allow young people to contribute to train upkeep and design can foster a sense of pride and ownership. Education is the key and the younger you start the easier it is to develop positive on train passenger behaviours.
5. Technological Solutions: Smart ticketing systems can reduce fare evasion, while AI-powered surveillance can help identify and address acts of vandalism in real-time, allowing enforcement teams to take action promptly.
6. Enforcement of Railway Byelaws: Railway byelaws should be strictly enforced to ensure compliance. Some key byelaws cover such things as:
1. Potentially dangerous items
except with written permission from an operator or an authorised person, no person shall bring with him or allow to remain on the railway any item which, in the opinion of an authorised person, may threaten, annoy, soil or damage any person or any property
if any person in charge of an item contrary to Byelaw 2(1) is asked by an authorised person to remove it and fails to do so immediately, it may be removed by or under the direction of an authorised person.
2. Smoking
No person shall smoke or carry a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, match, lighter or other lighted item on any part of the railway on or near which there is a notice indicating that smoking is not allowed.
3. Intoxication and possession of intoxicating liquor
no person shall enter or remain on the railway where such person is unfit to enter or remain on the railway as a result of being in a state of intoxication
where reasonable notice is, or has been, given prohibiting intoxicating liquor on any train service, no person shall have any intoxicating liquor with him on it, or attempt to enter such a train with intoxicating liquor with him
where an authorised person reasonably believes that any person is unfit to enter or remain on the railway, or has with him intoxicating liquor contrary to byelaw 4(2), an authorised person may: require him to leave the railway prevent him entering or remaining on the railway until an authorised person is satisfied that he has no intoxicating liquor with him and/or is no longer in an unfit condition
5. Unfit to be on the railway
No person shall enter or remain on the railway if, in the reasonable opinion of an authorised person, he is in an unfit or improper condition or his clothing may soil or damage any part of the railway or the property or clothing of any person on the railway.
6. Unacceptable behaviour
No person shall:
use any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language on the railway
behave in a disorderly, indecent or offensive manner on the railway
write, draw, paint or fix anything on the railway
soil any part of the railway
damage or detach any part of the railway
spit on the railway
drop litter or leave waste on the railway
molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of any person on the railway
Conclusion
In conclusion, passenger mistreatment of UK railways is a growing concern that could lead to higher costs, safety risks, and a declining travel experience if not addressed. By implementing a combination of stricter enforcement, public education, better facilities, and proper active enforcement of railway byelaws, the railway system can be protected and maintained for future generation, and it would be a false economy to not to take action now. The millions of pounds spent on new trains and refurbishment across our UK train operating companies, will provide short-term relief if a way is not found to protect this huge investment. Cleaning and reactive maintenance alone will be like putting a sticking plaster over a gaping wound.
The truth is that responsibility lies not just with railway authorities and operating companies but also with firmly with passengers and the public to treat all public transport with care and respect. I believe that only through these collective actions the UK can ensure a reliable and sustainable railway network for all moving forward. These are of course only my personal thoughts and opinions and should only be taken as such, however if they open up a constructive conversation then that can only ever be useful, so please feel free to share your comments below.
CHAIRMAN: BIHIMA.com Writer and Novelist
7moIt’s sad you feel the need to raise this subject, Mark. Vandalism has always been present in society(and on the railways) but I sense it has ramped up in recent decades. Not to be a defeatest, but whatever you do to mitigate the problem there will always be people prepared to perpetrate crime and often for no apparent reason. It’s complex. The work you do, and I commend your efforts, is a part of a complex picture. The travelling public, especially those using trains, have had years of disruption caused by late and cancelled trains making it almost impossible to plan working and social days. Reliability has been a major issue undermining everything else. Everincreasing fares and changing working practices (home working) has also left the rail system vulnerable. The current governments plan to renationalise the rail system will be expensive add further disruption and in my view won’t work. I do hope you and your teams endeavours pay dividends. You deserve a positive outcome.
Head Of Train Presentation at East Midlands Railway
7moGood insights as ever Mark. It feels like we need a cultural shift which brings back a mutual respect for the people and environment around us. We in Train Presentation must do our part by striving for that immaculate standard. Our colleagues and customers really deserve nothing less. Could leading by example nudge that cultural shift it feels like the majority of us want to see?
Transport Policy Officer (SYMCA)
7moReally interesting article, thank you.
Senior Recruiter | Helping UK transportation businesses hire skilled, IR35-compliant contractors fast — from depot to design
7moGreat read Mark Dickinson, it is certainly an issue that needs addressing!