High-speed trains in China add quiet carriages for travellers who don’t want to hear other passengers’ phones and loud conversations
- In quiet cars passengers must use audio devices with headphones and leave the carriage to take a phone call
- Major cities are also trying to lower noise levels on subways by punishing people for using smartphones on speaker rather than earphones
Railways in China have unveiled quiet carriages on some high-speed trains.
According to the Ministry of Railways’ ticket booking service, passengers who travel on the Beijing-Shanghai and Chengdu-Chongqing routes can now choose to buy a seat in a quiet carriage.
The quiet carriage rules stipulate that headphones must be worn when listening to audio on a device, people must leave the carriage to take a phone call, and staff announcements will be made at a lower volume.
It’s a trial initiative in response to some passengers’ wish for a quiet environment, the announcement read.
The quiet carriages were introduced last week on the two high-speed-train routes. Quiet carriages are already in use in other parts of the world – including Australia, where passengers have applauded the initiative.