A striking contradiction has emerged in British rail travel, with passengers calling for bans and financial penalties on behaviours they routinely commit themselves, according to new research.
The survey of 1,000 UK rail users reveals a significant disconnect between what commuters expect from fellow passengers and their own conduct on trains. Perhaps most tellingly, nearly three-quarters say leaving rubbish behind is never acceptable, yet a third admit to doing exactly that, with one in ten confessing they do it regularly.
This gap between principle and practice extends across multiple aspects of train etiquette. Whilst 70 per cent condemn putting feet on seats as unacceptable behaviour, more than a third acknowledge having done it themselves. Similarly, around seven in ten passengers say blocking doors when space is available inside carriages is never acceptable, despite over a third admitting to the practice.
The research, commissioned by JRPass and conducted by Censuswide between 15th and 17th December 2025, surveyed respondents who had travelled by train or tube in the UK within the previous six months. The timing captured views as millions returned to packed carriages following the festive period.
Noise pollution emerged as a particular flashpoint. Almost two-thirds of passengers—61 per cent—consider listening to phones without headphones unacceptable, whilst 59 per cent say the same about speaking loudly on calls. Yet significant numbers admit to both behaviours, with 46 per cent confessing to playing audio without headphones and 45 per cent to making loud phone conversations.
The issue of strong-smelling food on trains proved especially divisive. Nearly half of those surveyed believe eating hot or pungent food should be banned from trains entirely. However, an almost identical proportion—48 per cent—admit to doing it themselves, making this the most evenly split behaviour tested. Unlike littering or feet on seats, where condemnation significantly outweighs admission, smelly food appears to genuinely divide opinion rather than revealing hypocrisy.
Passengers are increasingly supportive of financial penalties to enforce better behaviour. Three-quarters want fines for leaving litter behind, with the most popular suggested penalty ranging from £11 to £20. More than half—58 per cent—believe putting feet on seats should incur a fine, whilst nearly half support penalties for playing audio without headphones and blocking doorways.
Interestingly, whilst drinking alcohol on trains attracted less overall condemnation than other behaviours, it prompted calls for the harshest punishments. Some 11 per cent of passengers believe alcohol consumption should carry fines exceeding £100, the highest proportion for any behaviour examined in the study.
Currently, tens of thousands of penalty fares are issued annually across the UK rail network, according to operator figures. However, the vast majority relate to ticketing irregularities rather than onboard conduct, suggesting behavioural enforcement remains largely absent from British trains.
The data reveals other contradictions too. Placing bags on empty seats whilst others stand registers as never acceptable to 66 per cent of passengers, yet 41 per cent admit having done it. Even applying makeup on trains, which 41 per cent consider unacceptable, is confessed to by 23 per cent.
Haroun Khan, Founder of JRPass, drew comparisons with international rail culture. “In countries like Japan, a culture of respect helps keep train journeys calm and comfortable. The findings here suggest UK passengers are increasingly looking for clearer guidelines too, and, in some cases, are supportive of enforcement when those boundaries are repeatedly ignored.”
The most commonly suggested fine amounts skew relatively modest. For littering, the most condemned behaviour, 18 per cent of those supporting penalties favoured £11-20, whilst eating smelly food attracted the lowest suggested fines, with £6-10 being most popular among the minority who want it penalised.
Beyond the headline contradictions, the research suggests British rail passengers are grappling with crowded conditions and evolving social norms around shared space. Behaviours that might pass unnoticed on quiet services become flashpoints during peak travel, when every seat and square foot of standing room carries premium value.
The findings indicate commuters want more than courtesy reminders or polite suggestions. There appears to be growing appetite for formal rules and consequences, particularly where behaviour affects the wider passenger experience. Whether operators will respond with stricter enforcement, or whether British reserve will continue to mean tutting rather than tickets, remains to be seen.
The research was conducted by Censuswide, a market research company that employs members of the Market Research Society and adheres to ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of The British Polling Council. JRPass, which commissioned the study, began over 15 years ago and has established itself as a leading provider of Japan Rail Passes, specialising in rail-led travel and advising international visitors on rail etiquette and onboard norms across different cultures.
