Throughout 2023, Australia’s Queensland Rail faced a surge of 865 etiquette-related complaints from customers, spotlighting a range of disrespectful behaviours on trains, from vaping and occupying seats with feet and bags, to blasting music and engaging in loud conversations.
Tessa Hardy, a spokesperson for Queensland Rail, prefaced that the majority of passengers did the right thing.
“With almost 47 million trips across South East Queensland last year, the vast majority of our customers did the right thing each and every day by respecting their fellow passengers and generally displaying great train etiquette,” Ms. Hardy said.
“Sadly there were some spoiling the journey, with 215 complaints centred around smoking and drinking alcohol and 191 about loud music and conversations in the quiet carriage.”
The rise of vaping on trains and at stations was a particular concern.
“One passenger told us they saw ‘four people vaping like no tomorrow in here’ and another saying ’so many people vaping lately, very annoying for other travellers. Is this legal?' via Facebook messages to Queensland Rail,” she said.
“It is illegal, with $309 (US$201) in fines hitting the hip pocket of those caught breaking the rules.”
There were also unusual complaints such as instances of youths throwing cookie dough at one another, as well as reports of people engaging in nail painting.
She appealed to passengers to consider their fellow commuters, and stresses the value of quiet carriages, introduced in 2010 as sanctuaries for passengers seeking peace and quiet during their travels.
“Recently, a customer contacted us saying they were ‘getting very fed up with teens blaring their mumble rap on the train’ and while a rap tune might be one way to wind down—it’s not a banger for everyone,” she added.
“It’s self-explanatory but if you’re in the quiet carriages, turn the volume down on your devices, use headphones, and keep conversations to a low volume.”
The feedback also touched on issues like the misuse of priority seating, obstruction from bags and feet on seats, and the consumption of food and drinks onboard.
“Give up your seat for pregnant women, seniors, people with a disability or customers travelling with an injury, particularly within priority seating areas,” Ms. Hardy said.
- Quiet in the quiet carriage—please do not talk loudly or play loud devices and keep noise to a minimum.
- Keep feet on the floor, and not on seats.
- Wait for others to disembark first.
- Vacate priority seating for people with a disability, seniors, pregnant women, or adults carrying children.
- Do not eat or drink onboard and take any litter with you.
- Place your bag on your lap or under your seat.
- Antisocial behaviour, like smoking or vaping is prohibited.
The railway operator also has more than 30 Authorised Officers, 11 canine teams at stations, and Guardian Trains at night with security officers onboard and these teams regularly patrol for anti-social behaviour .
Ms. Hardy said that while Authorised Officers can issue fines, they cannot be everywhere at once.
“We’re appealing to our customers’ sense of decency—good train etiquette is key to ensuring everyone has a safe and happy trip on the rail network,” she said.
