Never knew it was an offence to swear on trains same as singing. The singing part I don't get though as lots do it on football match days etc so am I missing something?? Additionally, where do these byelaws apply and what happens if you swear etc. As lots of people seem to do it.
Most of these byelaws are more holdovers from the Victorians and their sense of morality, singing was likely to prevent ladies overhearing bawdy songs etc. It's the same on a lot of stations where Ladies and Gents toilets weren't placed on the same platform because it was considered mildly scandalous to place them on the same platform. You also can't carry out political speeches or religious recruitment on a train in the UK. Railway byelaws come into force as soon as you enter any land owned by Network Rail or where a TOC with a BTP service agreement conducts its business. I doubt the BTP will do anything about people singing on a train, but I have seen spitting and swearing dealt with via a fixed penalty notice under the Public Order Act (same as the civilian forces).
