Smoking on Railway Platforms

[MacCookie]

One of the issues involved is the fact that at manned stations the platforms are also workplaces for rail staff and as smoking in the workplace is not permitted the only way to apply the law correctly is to make all platforms non-smoking.

Not true.
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In Scotland an enclosed area was defined as three walls, a roof, and one open side :
(b) has a ceiling and, except for doors and windows, is completely enclosed on all sides by solid floor-to-ceiling walls
The idea was to also include bus shelters
It was actually an oversight and error that stations were not included

It could argued that some stations, where the smoking ban is enforced, it does not apply as it does not meet the requirement
Example such as Edinburgh Waverley, Ayr, etc as it has two walls, a roof, and two open sides

However, the legislation clearly states :
"public transportation facilities" includes train stations, bus stations, bus shelters, waiting rooms, ticket offices and terminal buildings provided in connection with any public transportation vehicle

It is this ambiquity which has resulted in arguments that smoking is permitted on platforms
Sadly it is NOT the case, but rather than end up in court First ScotRail only enforces in the building structures
Network Rail enforces throughout the entire station

Some, if not all of that, is not true.

 

[route101]

Well ive seen people light up in Edinburgh Waverley. On FSR services ive never come across anyone smoking but on First Buses its another story!
Last Year in the Balkans i think you can smoke on any train , maybe in Czech Republic and Poland they have set aside smoking carriages .

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Not true.
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Some, if not all of that, is not true.

Care to tell us where it says that isn't true?

 

[MacCookie]

Nope, stations in Scotland are only subject to the "enclosed public places" rule. On the open parts of the platforms, you are allowed to smoke. I have no idea why England banned it and Scotland didn't, but it could just be down to Scotland banning smoking before England did in the first place.

The smoking bans introduced by Holyrood and Westminster are largely the same. They both banned smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed public places and workplaces. Substantially enclosed, at least in Scotland, means that at least half the wall space is covered.

http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
http://www.clearingtheairscotland.com/index.html

Station platforms, when uncovered, are not covered by the smoking bans introduced. The ban on smoking on platforms is done through railway bye-laws. I think this was because it was easier to ban smoking on all stations rather than trying to work out which bits were enclosed and which weren't.

Ewan
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Care to tell us where it says that isn't true?

http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
http://www.clearingtheairscotland.com/index.html

Smoking is only banned in enclosed or substantially closed workplaces or public places. Uncovered platforms are not enclosed spaces, therefore not covered under the legislation introduced by Holyrood and Westminster. Both of the above links will link through to the actual legislation if you're interested in reading it.

Ewan
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Also worth reading: http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Other_Organisations/ATOC/ATOC Good Practice Guides/ATOCGPG015 Iss 1.pdf
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While the legislation affects covered or partially-covered premises, the railways are using existing railway bye-laws to extend the smoke-free environment to all uncovered platforms and footbridges for reasons of practicality and simplicity.

Should clarify things as well!