London’s new campaign urges public transport users to wear headphones instead of playing music or videos aloud, in response to growing public concern and political pressure for stricter penalties.
London’s public transport users are set to see posters urging them to use headphones rather than play music or videos out loud, as part of a new campaign launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office. The initiative, starting on the Elizabeth line and soon extending to buses, the Docklands Light Railway, and the London Overground and Underground network, aims to reduce the nuisance caused by loud audio, which can disturb fellow passengers. The campaign is included within Transport for London’s (TfL) wider Travel Kind programme, which also encourages travellers to be considerate by looking up from phones and offering seats to those in need.
Seb Dance, London’s deputy mayor for transport, highlighted the frustration felt by many users, saying most passengers already use headphones, but a small minority who do not can significantly disrupt travel experiences. The campaign therefore emphasises courtesy and the shared nature of public transport journeys.
This move follows mounting political pressure to address the issue of loud music and conversations on public transport. Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have called for tougher enforcement and penalties. Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall proposes amending TfL’s conditions of carriage to ban loud music, speakerphone conversations, and disruptive filming, with fines reaching up to £1,000 or removal from the network for offenders. Hall criticises the current environment on the Tube under Khan's leadership and stresses the need for safe, quiet journeys for Londoners.
Similarly, the Liberal Democrats support a ban on playing music and videos out loud on public transport across England, pushing for the Bus Services Bill to be amended to impose fines up to £1,000 for offenders, whom they dub "headphone dodgers." Their campaign is backed by polling showing that 38% of passengers have experienced loud music on public transport, while 54% have felt uncomfortable asking others to reduce the volume. Paul Kohler, Lib Dem transport spokesperson and Wimbledon MP, praised TfL for responding to public concern but urged the government to implement stricter enforcement measures and publicity campaigns to end the issue.
The issue has also attracted attention at a national level, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling loud audio on public transport as antisocial behaviour. Public sentiment appears largely in favour of penalties, with surveys indicating that nearly two-thirds of Londoners support fines up to £1,000 for those playing music or videos out loud.
Transport for London’s Travel Kind campaign has previously addressed concerns such as sexual harassment and encouraged passenger behaviour that facilitates smoother and safer journeys, including moving away from train doors to allow boarding. The latest addition to the campaign reflects a broader effort to enhance passenger comfort and safety while responding to growing public and political calls for deterrents against inconsiderate noise on the capital’s transport network.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being August 26, 2025. No earlier versions with different figures, dates, or quotes were found. The campaign is part of Transport for London's (TfL) wider Travel Kind programme, which also encourages considerate behaviour among travellers. The initiative is being rolled out on the Elizabeth line, with plans to extend to buses, the Docklands Light Railway, and the London Overground and Underground networks. The campaign aims to reduce the nuisance caused by loud audio, which can disturb fellow passengers. The initiative follows mounting political pressure to address the issue of loud music and conversations on public transport. Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have called for tougher enforcement and penalties. Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall proposes amending TfL’s conditions of carriage to ban loud music, speakerphone conversations, and disruptive filming, with fines reaching up to £1,000 or removal from the network for offenders. Similarly, the Liberal Democrats support a ban on playing music and videos out loud on public transport across England, pushing for the Bus Services Bill to be amended to impose fines up to £1,000 for offenders, whom they dub "headphone dodgers." Their campaign is backed by polling showing that 38% of passengers have experienced loud music on public transport, while 54% have felt uncomfortable asking others to reduce the volume. Paul Kohler, Lib Dem transport spokesperson and Wimbledon MP, praised TfL for responding to public concern but urged the government to implement stricter enforcement measures and publicity campaigns to end the issue. The issue has also attracted attention at a national level, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling loud audio on public transport as antisocial behaviour. Public sentiment appears largely in favour of penalties, with surveys indicating that nearly two-thirds of Londoners support fines up to £1,000 for those playing music or videos out loud. Transport for London’s Travel Kind campaign has previously addressed concerns such as sexual harassment and encouraged passenger behaviour that facilitates smoother and safer journeys, including moving away from train doors to allow boarding. The latest addition to the campaign reflects a broader effort to enhance passenger comfort and safety while responding to growing public and political calls for deterrents against inconsiderate noise on the capital’s transport network.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from Seb Dance, London’s deputy mayor for transport, and Paul Kohler, Lib Dem transport spokesperson and Wimbledon MP, are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable news outlet. It is supported by references to The Guardian and The Standard, which are also reputable, enhancing the overall reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims made are plausible and align with known public concerns about loud music on London public transportation. The involvement of political figures and the support for penalties are consistent with previous discussions on this issue. The language, tone, and focus are appropriate for the topic and region.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are original, the source is reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with known public concerns. Overall, this results in a PASS with high confidence.
