I've noticed walking through my German trains that there do not appear to be any smoking sections. Just curious, as I have many fond memories from when I was stationed in Germany of heading home on Sunday mornings from my weekend adventures, sitting on the train, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes (I don't smoke any more, but ahh, youth... but I digress). Are those days finally over in real life? I figure there has to be plenty of Germans on this forum. Somebody must know. Same question for the rest of Europe.
Hello magnus#7968 I can confirm this for SBB (Switzerland). The days when smoking was permitted on trains are long gone at SBB. 2000: SBB reduces the number of smoking areas on trains. 2005: Smoking compartments are abolished, which is equivalent to a general ban on smoking on trains. I think that DB will also follow suit and no longer allow smoking
They already did, at around the same time In the early 2000's, DB and other companies started restricting smoking in trains more and more on their own. In 2007 a new law took effect which prohibited smoking in public transport in Germany altogether. Gotta say, I don't miss it. I never smoked, and don't intend to ever start it
In the UK smoking and vaping is prohibited on all trains and stations. Good job too. As a lifetime non smoker it used to be horrible boarding a train to find the only spare seat was in a smoking section.
Smoking is forbidden almost everywhere in public across Europe these days. You can sit in cafe in Amsterdam smoking you know what yet you can't smoke a cigarette in the same cafe because it's against the law.
Unless you carry a magic smoker's carpet. With this you can smoke anywhere on the platform. Clevaaaaaa! Source: https://www.der-postillon.com/2017/11/mann-teppich.html
Exactly... remembering my school time. The train which brought us there in the morning usually consisted of two 628s and at that time, their 2nd class was split almost 50:50 for smokers and non-smokers. Just like the ones from Niddertalbahn. Occasionally only one 628 showed up, meaning some of us had to sit in the smokers compartment if we didn't want to stand for the journey. I still remember very well spending the whole schoolday reeking of smoke and having to put all the clothes in the laundry afterwards. Oh, and all the comments
An insidious practice that is spreading to public areas in the UK, it’s becoming more frequent to walk past or behind people who are openly smoking marijuana (weed) even though technically it’s still illegal. Not something I’ve ever touched and, working for the railway (though now retired), could have as it would be instant fail of any drugs test and likely dismissal. It’s a nasty, sickly clinging smell.
It's not just the UK. A recent trip to France there were people openly smoking it in Paris. When I worked for Balfour they tested regularly, although it was a strange coincidence certain people didn't turn up for work on the (surprise test) days! It was in the publics interest that you was going about your duties with a clear head vern.
Absolutely. It was drummed in, particularly for safety critical roles which included the Control. Even something like Night Nurse if you had a cold was out of the question, Lemsip or straight up Paracetamol was about the most potent medicine you could take.
I absolutely agree with it. For the safety of staff and public. It was a while ago I was in a gang and if you turned up with a hang over you was sent home. That was then, nowadays you could get a instant dismissal if alcohol shows up on the test. If they find drugs your gone, no warnings. Last thing you want is someone wandering around a railway on cloud 9 let alone messing with it. Most roles in the industry require 100% concentration. Even on cleaning duties you got trains moving around the depot and live tracks, but I'm sure you know that already.
