UK issues bus nuisance enforcement guidance and launches rail noise campaign
Government publishes guidance for English local transport authorities' bus byelaw powers and launches an industry-led rail campaign against loudcasting.
The story in focus
The UK government issued guidance on 19 October 2026 to help English local transport authorities use bus byelaw powers, including fixed penalties of up to £100. It also launched an industry-led rail campaign discouraging loudcasting from phones, with fines of up to £1,000 for passengers who refuse to comply.
- Guidance supports new bus byelaw powers that came into force on 5 August 2026, with each byelaw requiring Secretary of State sign-off
- Local authorities can issue fixed penalties of up to £100 for nuisance behaviour such as loud music, littering and vaping on buses
- The rail campaign, led by the industry, targets loudcasting; passengers who refuse to stop can face fines of up to £1,000
Bus enforcement powers
All local transport authorities in England gained powers to set and enforce local rules on bus nuisance behaviour under the Bus Services Act 2025, with the legal power coming into force on 5 August 2026. The guidance issued on 19 October is intended to help authorities put those rules into practice.
Each byelaw must be signed off by the Secretary of State before it can be enforced, according to the announcement. Fixed penalties of up to £100 may be issued for behaviour including loud music, littering, vaping and threatening conduct.
Bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcement. Authorised officers, including transport safety officers and police, are to follow a three-step approach: engaging with the person, explaining the rules and their impact, then taking enforcement action if the person refuses to comply.
Rail campaign
An industry-led national campaign encourages rail passengers to keep noise down, with audio reminders of network rules. Authorised rail staff can require a passenger who refuses to stop to leave the train at the next station, or the passenger may face fines of up to a maximum of £1,000.
Most operators are expected to carry messaging on websites, social media, in carriages and at stations, including posters and announcements. The campaign is presented as replacing separate operator campaigns with a consistent message across the network.
When did the bus byelaw powers take effect?
The legal power for all local transport authorities in England to tackle nuisance behaviour on buses came into force on 5 August 2026, and the supporting guidance was issued on 19 October 2026.
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