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15/06/2005
Train operator to ban smoking
Train operator GNER has announced that it is to ban smoking on all its’ trains from August 29.
The operator’s decision follows the result of research, which found that more than 90% of GNER passengers did not smoke and that most wanted smoking on trains to be banned.
GNER also said that customer complaints about smoking had risen by 172% over the past two years and that feedback suggested that smoking on trains could deter people from travelling on them.
GNER’s move follows similar bans imposed by other public transport companies. The train operator carries almost 17 million passengers a year on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, the North East of England and Scotland.
GNER’s chief operating officer Jonathan Metcalfe said: “We have regularly reviewed smoking provision on our trains over several years. During that time there had been a noticeable shift in passenger preferences, which has coincided with a hardening of attitudes about smoking in enclosed public places across society at large.
“Up until now we have tried hard to accommodate the diminishing number of people who wish to smoke whilst travelling with us, but it is now very clear that the majority of our passengers are in favour of a total ban on smoking on our trains. We have responded accordingly.”
The Rail Passenger Committee’s East Coast Passengers Panel has welcomed the move. Chairperson Christine Knights said: “We are pleased that GNER is responding to the feedback from passengers by banning smoking.”
(KMcA/SP)
The operator’s decision follows the result of research, which found that more than 90% of GNER passengers did not smoke and that most wanted smoking on trains to be banned.
GNER also said that customer complaints about smoking had risen by 172% over the past two years and that feedback suggested that smoking on trains could deter people from travelling on them.
GNER’s move follows similar bans imposed by other public transport companies. The train operator carries almost 17 million passengers a year on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, the North East of England and Scotland.
GNER’s chief operating officer Jonathan Metcalfe said: “We have regularly reviewed smoking provision on our trains over several years. During that time there had been a noticeable shift in passenger preferences, which has coincided with a hardening of attitudes about smoking in enclosed public places across society at large.
“Up until now we have tried hard to accommodate the diminishing number of people who wish to smoke whilst travelling with us, but it is now very clear that the majority of our passengers are in favour of a total ban on smoking on our trains. We have responded accordingly.”
The Rail Passenger Committee’s East Coast Passengers Panel has welcomed the move. Chairperson Christine Knights said: “We are pleased that GNER is responding to the feedback from passengers by banning smoking.”
(KMcA/SP)
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