People playing loud music on buses could face £100 fine

Passengers who blast music on buses in England may be issued fixed‑penalty notices of up to £100 as part of a government push to curb antisocial conduct on public transport. The new measures also target littering, vaping and threatening behaviour, with the aim of making journeys on buses, trains and other services more pleasant.

Local authorities have been given fresh powers that allow them to fine offenders on buses. While legislation banning loud music and singing on trains has existed since 2005, the government will roll out a national campaign reminding rail users to “share the carriage, not the noise”. Campaigners have welcomed the crackdown, though some have raised questions about how it will be enforced.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said, “We’ve all been on a train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone. It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey.” The practice has been labelled “loudcasting” or “sodcasting” in recent surveys by Ofcom, YouGov and Transport for London, all of which show a clear majority of travellers dislike it.

The rail campaign will appear on train operator websites, social media platforms and inside carriages. Under current rules, passengers who refuse to stop after being asked can be removed from a train or fined up to £1,000. Earlier this year the government issued guidance to local councils on the new powers that were introduced to tackle loud music and other antisocial acts on buses. These powers allow authorities to set additional rules for bus operators, although any changes still require the transport secretary’s approval. The resulting penalties for violations are fixed at a maximum of £100.

Bus drivers will not be tasked with enforcement. Instead, authorised officers such as Transport Safety Officers and police personnel will handle complaints. Chris McDonald, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, told BBC Breakfast that passengers can report incidents to staff or the British Transport Police, adding that they do not have to confront the offender themselves if they feel uneasy.

Justin, a resident of Newcastle‑upon‑Tyne, welcomed the proposal but asked how it would work in practice. He told the BBC that noise on public transport had discouraged him from using buses, citing “levels of antisocial behaviour including unwanted attendance to someone’s social media doom scrolling audio concert”. He said he would “much rather enjoy my own company with my own music in the isolation of my car”.

Transport for London already has by‑laws that forbid playing music or other content aloud on the Underground. Its enforcement officers first ask the passenger to stop, and most comply, but repeat offenders may be asked to leave the train or face possible prosecution.

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, called the move “a step in the right direction” but warned that the government must also address the “violence, threats and abuse faced by passengers and transport workers”. She added that increasing the budget for the British Transport Police is essential to protect the public and bring violent offenders to justice.

Dave McAra from Derby raised a practical concern, asking who would police the new rules on a bus, noting that a solo driver might be verbally abused or even assaulted.

Michael Solomon Williams of the Campaign for Better Transport told the BBC that antisocial behaviour can deter people, especially those with accessibility needs, from using public transport. He questioned how local authorities would enforce the rules when British Transport Police are rarely present on bus services.

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said the Conservative Party had “led the charge” against antisocial conduct on public transport last year, but stressed that passengers and rail staff face more serious issues. “Assaults against rail staff have risen by 68 percent, while prosecutions have slumped under Labour. It’s time for Andy Burnham to get serious about enforcement, tackling violence and protecting those who work on our railways,” he said.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Olly Glover warned that without funding for transport safety officers on the ground, the new rules “won’t be worth the paper they’re printed on”.

Research by the independent watchdog Transport Focus shows that personal safety and security now underpin passengers’ confidence in the railway. Alex Campbell of Transport Focus said, “Four in 10 passengers say that anti‑social behaviour has made them feel vulnerable when travelling.” He added that measures reducing nuisance behaviour such as loud music and vaping can improve the travel experience and encourage more people to choose public transport.