Passengers in England who play loud music, vape, litter or behave disruptively on public transport could face tougher penalties under measures announced on October 19, 2026.
The plans set fixed fines of up to £100 for offences on buses and include a nationwide campaign urging railway passengers to use headphones.
The government said local authorities have received guidance on powers introduced earlier in 2026 to create rules against disruptive conduct on buses.
The new rules still need approval from the transport secretary before they can take effect.
Enforcement Left to Officers, Not Drivers
Bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcing the measures.
Authorized personnel, including Transport Safety Officers and police, are expected to handle incidents, though questions remain about how consistently the rules can be applied across different services.
Existing railway rules already prohibit loud music and singing.
Under current powers, passengers who refuse to stop when instructed can be removed from a train or fined up to £1,000.
The government plans to reinforce awareness through a campaign across railway operator websites, social media platforms and train carriages.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government wanted to address a familiar source of frustration for 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.
The campaign's message is to "share the carriage, not the noise".
The government also intends to give local leaders greater scope to address disruptive conduct on buses, extending enforcement beyond the railway network.
Chris McDonald, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, said passengers did not need to confront offenders themselves.
He told BBC Breakfast that they could report incidents to transport staff or the British Transport Police if they wished.
Passengers and Unions Question Enforcement
Justin, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, welcomed the proposals but questioned whether enforcement would be effective.
He told the BBC that noise and other disruptive behaviour had discouraged him from using buses.
He also explained his preference for travelling in his own vehicle rather than experiencing unwanted noise on public transport.
Transport for London already has bylaws prohibiting passengers from playing music or other content aloud.
The transport authority said enforcement officers would initially ask offenders to stop.
"Most people comply at this stage," Transport for London said.
The authority added that passengers who refuse to comply may be required to leave the train or reported for possible prosecution.
Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, supported efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour but called for broader action to protect passengers and transport employees.
She described the measures as "a step in the right direction" while stressing that more serious safety concerns also required attention.
Eslamdoust said the government must "urgently confront the violence, threats and abuse faced by passengers and transport workers".
She also called for additional resources for the British Transport Police, saying an increased budget is vital to protect people, respond to incidents and bring violent offenders to justice.
Dave McAra, from Derby, questioned whether bus drivers could safely enforce the proposed rules without adequate support.
"Who is going to police this legislation on a bus? The solo driver?
I think not as he would probably be verbally abused at best and assaulted at worst," McAra told the BBC.
Michael Solomon Williams, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said antisocial behaviour could be a "real deterrent" to public transport use, particularly for people with different accessibility needs.
He also questioned how local authorities would coordinate enforcement with police forces on bus services, where the British Transport Police does not generally operate.
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said the Conservative Party had previously campaigned against antisocial behaviour on public transport.
Holden said assaults against rail staff have risen by 68%, while prosecutions have slumped under Labour, and called on Andy Burnham to get serious about enforcement, tackling violence and protecting railway workers.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Olly Glover also questioned whether the measures would be effective without dedicated personnel.
"Unless the government funds transport safety officers on the ground, these new rules won't be worth the paper they're printed on," Glover said.
Transport Focus, the independent passenger watchdog, said personal safety was increasingly important to confidence in rail travel.
Alex Campbell, from the organisation, said its research found that four in 10 passengers say antisocial behaviour has made them feel vulnerable when travelling.
Campbell added that measures reducing nuisance behaviour, such as playing loud music and vaping, can help improve people's experience and encourage more people to choose public transport.
Research cited in the BBC report from Ofcom, YouGov and Transport for London has also indicated that most people dislike hearing music or videos played aloud on public transport.
The proposed rules seek to address that nuisance while leaving enforcement to authorized officers rather than individual drivers or passengers.
