'It's time to take a stand!' Headphone-dodging commuters who play music out loud on trains should face £1,000 fines

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GB News
Eliana Silver

By Eliana Silver


Published: 24/04/2025

- 08:50

The initiative has cross-party backing, with both Labour and Conservative MPs having previously proposed similar ideas

Commuters who play music out loud on public transportation should face fines of up to £1,000, Sir Keir Starmer's Government has been told.

Existing railway byelaws already prohibit various forms of anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations, including the use of sound-producing devices without permission if they disturb others.


However, there are now fresh calls for a legal change to specifically ban playing music or videos out loud on phones while on trains and buses in England.

Polling conducted by Savanta revealed that 38 per cent had experienced fellow travellers playing music out loud often or sometimes.

Person with headphones off / penalty notice

Existing railway byelaws already prohibit various forms of anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations (Stock Image)

GETTY

It also found that 54 per cent of people would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down the music, with the number higher for women (63 per cent) than men (46 per cent).

The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to propose amendments to the Bus Service Bill - currently progressing through Parliament and set for debate in the House of Lords next week- to include these changes.

They also called for updates to existing railway byelaws to explicitly classify playing music or videos out loud on a phone as unacceptable behaviour, warranting fines of up to £1,000.

Liberal Democrats also said the move should be supported by a national awareness campaign, with posters displayed on train platforms and at bus stops.

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Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman, said: "Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of anti-social behaviour - and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders.

“Whether you're heading to work, taking your kids to school, or simply trying to enjoy a moment of peace, everyone deserves to feel safe and respected on public transport.

"Time and time again, I hear from people who say they feel too intimidated to speak up when someone is blasting music or other content from a phone or speaker."

She added: "It's time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace."

Upset woman

63 per cent of women would feel uncomfortable telling someone to turn their music down

GETTY

However, the Government is also rolling out additional measures to address anti-social behaviour on buses, including mandatory training for staff on handling such incidents.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "There are already strict rules in place to prevent anti-social behaviour on public transport, including possible fines of up to £1,000."

At present, passengers who violate railway byelaws can be removed from trains or stations and face fines of up to £1,000.

Similarly, current regulations permit the removal of bus passengers who play disruptive audio likely to annoy others.