Andy Burnham is pushing a nationwide campaign against passengers who blast music from their phones on public transport.
The Prime Minister unveiled the “share the journey, not the noise” initiative on Monday, alongside new guidance letting local transport authorities fine offenders up to £100. The crackdown targets anti-social behaviour including loud music, vaping and littering on buses and trains across England.
Burnham, who has personally championed the issue, said in a statement: “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 continued: “So, we’re launching a nationwide campaign reminding passengers to use headphones on trains. On top of that, we’re giving local leaders new powers to tackle loud music, vaping and littering on buses.”
The Labour leader added: “It’s a simple thing, but one that will make journeys that little bit better for all of us.”
The Department for Transport published the guidance Monday, building on powers granted to local authorities earlier this year to set and enforce rules on their bus networks. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will need to sign off on the final regulations, with specialist transport safety officers — not bus drivers — handling enforcement.
Alexander said: “It is so frustrating when the actions of an inconsiderate few spoil journeys for the rest of us, whether that is vaping, littering or blasting music out loud.”
She added: “Even small changes in behaviour can make a massive difference to people’s experience on public transport.”
The campaign arrives with polling suggesting broad public appetite for action. Reports said roughly 60 percent of voters support measures against passengers who play loud music or videos without headphones.
Ben Plowden, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, warned that anti-social behaviour could be “a real deterrent” to using public transport. He said: “If these new powers are properly and visibly enforced, they should help everyone feel safe and comfortable on public transport and enjoy the ride.”
The Conservative Party has attacked the measures as insufficient, demanding tougher protections for transport workers. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said Labour was “finally catching up with the Conservatives on issues passengers really care about.”
Holden wrote: “After we led the charge against antisocial behaviour on public transport last summer, ministers have worked out that nobody wants to endure pounding techno or blaring hip hop on a packed train or bus.”
He fired back: “But passengers and railway staff face far more serious problems. 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.”
The £100 fines apply specifically to bus passengers for now, with the headphone campaign initially focused on trains. Local leaders will determine how aggressively to deploy the new powers in their areas.
The announcement follows Burnham’s broader campaign against “headphone dodgers,” a term he has used to shame passengers who force fellow travellers to endure their audio. The Manchester-born politician has made transport quality a recurring theme since taking office.
The guidance takes effect after Alexander’s sign-off, with transport safety officers expected to begin issuing penalties once local frameworks are established.