Tougher penalties for unruly passengers on China’s planes and high-speed trains
Anybody lighting up on China’s bullet trains could face a six-month ban from the entire rail network under new rules
Passengers who brawl or disrupt operations on China’s high-speed trains and planes will face stiff rail and flight bans under tough new rules introduced on public transport on Tuesday.
From May 1, anybody caught smoking or “obstructing” operations on high-speed rail services will be banned from the entire rail network for six months, according to an announcement by the National Development and Reform Commission and two other departments.
People involved in brawls at airports or on flights, or who attack check-in staff or air crews will be barred from boarding any plane in China for a year.
Unruly air passengers were previously ordered to pay fines or serve a period of detention. The China Air Transport Association has also kept a log of misbehaving air passengers since February 2016 but did not impose any additional penalties.
Fines for anybody caught smoking on high-speed trains ranged up to 2,000 yuan (US$315).