If you’ve ever been trapped on a train listening to someone’s TikTok feed at full volume, your prayers may have just been answered.
The government has announced a crackdown on anti-social behaviour on public transport, with new powers allowing councils to hand out £100 fines on buses and a nationwide campaign targeting “loudcasting” on trains.
Basically, if you’re the person blasting music, vaping in the back seat, littering, or generally making everyone else’s journey miserable, your commute could soon get a lot more expensive.
Under new guidance published today, local authorities will be able to use powers introduced through the Bus Services Act to tackle nuisance behaviour on buses. That means offences such as loud music, vaping, threatening behaviour and littering could result in fixed penalty notices of up to £100.
And before anyone starts worrying about bus drivers becoming part-time security guards, the government says enforcement will be handled by authorised officers, transport safety staff and police officers.
When dealing with incidents, officers are expected to follow a three-stage process:
- Engage with the passenger
- Explain the rules and how their behaviour affects others
- Take enforcement action if they refuse to stop
But buses aren’t the only target.
In what might be the most relatable government announcement of 2026, ministers are also taking aim at “loudcasting” on the rail network, otherwise known as people who insist on watching videos, gaming or taking calls through their phone speakers in a packed carriage.
A new national campaign will tell passengers to “share the carriage, not the noise”, with posters, station announcements and social media messaging appearing across much of the rail network.
And yes, there are actual consequences.
Passengers who refuse to stop after being challenged by rail staff could be removed from the train at the next station. In more serious cases, they could face fines of up to £1,000 under existing railway byelaws.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham summed up what pretty much everyone who uses public transport is thinking: We’ve all been on a train where someone starts blasting music or videos and ruins the journey for everyone else.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also said the actions of a small number of inconsiderate passengers can have a huge impact on other travellers, adding that even small improvements in behaviour can make public transport a much better experience.
The government says the rail campaign will replace the current patchwork of operator-specific messaging with one consistent approach across the country.
And while most passengers will probably welcome the changes, there’ll no doubt be some debate over whether a £100 fine is enough to stop that one person watching YouTube clips without headphones at 7am.
One thing is clear though: The era of pretending nobody minds your phone speaker may finally be coming to an end.
