Andy Burnham will on Monday launch a campaign aimed at curbing noise nuisance on public transport by targeting people who play music aloud without headphones.
The initiative, billed as an effort to improve the commuter experience, carries the slogan “share the carriage, not the noise.” It accompanies new guidance that would enable local transport authorities to issue penalties of up to £100 for behaviour deemed to cause disturbance to other passengers.
The move forms part of what the prime minister has described as a wider pledge to give voters “breathing space” in the confined environment of trains and buses. Officials say the campaign is intended to complement existing rules and rely on local enforcement and public awareness rather than introducing new national offences.
Under the guidance, decisions on when to issue fines would rest with local transport bodies and their enforcement officers. The announcement stops short of prescribing a single enforcement model, stressing instead that local authorities will set out how the measures will be applied on services under their control.
The campaign is designed to strike a balance between protecting passengers from nuisance behaviour and allowing local agencies flexibility in enforcement. Further details, including any accompanying publicity or operational plans, are expected to be set out when the campaign is formally launched on Monday.