London may fine bus riders £100 for playing music without headphones
New powers allow local councils to set fines for loud music, vaping and littering on buses, with guidance issued by the Department for Transport.
By Felo News Desk · Published
London authorities are preparing to impose £100 fines on passengers who play music or videos out loud on buses, according to two reports from the Standard.
What happened
The proposed enforcement follows the introduction of new powers earlier this year that let local authorities set and enforce rules on their bus networks. Guidance released by the Department for Transport on Monday outlines how councils can use the legislation to target nuisance behaviour such as loud music, vaping and littering. The guidance also notes that any rules must be approved by the Transport Secretary and will be enforced by specialist transport officers.
What the reports add
Both Standard articles describe a nationwide campaign launching on Monday that will urge passengers on trains – and by implication on buses – to use headphones, using the slogan “share the journey, not the noise”. The campaign says offenders could face fines of up to £1,000, although the specific £100 figure mentioned relates to bus‑specific penalties. The articles do not clarify how the £100 fine interacts with the higher £1,000 maximum cited for other transport modes.
What was said
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was quoted as saying, “We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone. It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey,” and added, “It’s a simple thing, but one that will make journeys that little bit better for all of us.” Both statements were reported by the Standard.
How it came about
London’s bus network carries millions of passengers daily, and recent incidents of loud music have prompted calls for stricter enforcement. Earlier this year, local authorities received the power to set their own bus‑related rules, a change highlighted in Department for Transport guidance published on Monday. The move follows similar measures in other cities, such as Singapore’s recent introduction of up to S$500 fines for loud music on buses, which Felo covered on 23 September 2026 (see article).
Key facts
- London may impose £100 fines on bus passengers who play music without headphones (standard.co.uk)
- New powers allow local councils to set and enforce bus‑related rules after guidance from the Department for Transport (standard.co.uk)
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the measure will improve journeys for all passengers (standard.co.uk)
What we don't know yet
- Exact process for issuing fines on buses
- Whether the £100 fine applies to all antisocial offences or only loud music
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk
- [2] standard.co.uk
