London Midland introduces bylaws to tackle anti-social behaviour
Posted: 7 August 2017 | Global Railway Review | 2 comments
London Midland is taking steps to reduce anti-social behaviour on its trains by enforcing railway bylaws.
These bylaws will tackle issues ranging from smoking to feet on seats and playing loud music, with future offences possibly leading to a court prosecution.
Our passengers have the right to travel and feel safe with us”
“This is all about improving our passengers’ journeys,” explained Darren Hanley, London Midland’s head of Revenue Protection and Security. “The railway bylaws have always existed but for many years they have fallen out of focus by most train companies. There is a strong link between low levels of anti-social behaviour and ticketless travel. Our passengers have the right to travel and feel safe with us. By enforcing the railway bylaws we can stop problems before they escalate into something worse.”
London Midland has been running a two-month education programme on the line between Birmingham and Redditch before moving to enforce the bylaws. During the education programme more than 500 cases were identified that could have resulted in prosecution.
The train operator has future plans to roll out the programme to other lines in the months ahead based on passenger and staff feedback.
What a deplorable admission – that they have not been enforcing the bylaws.
Could this be the nail in the coffin for the British Government’s and some rail operating companies plans to eliminate guards?
Imagine the chaos if a driver stopped his train to deal with unsociable passengers.