Smoking ban on trains possible

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 5

Smoking ban on trains possible

PA Wellington The Railways Department is considering a ban on smoking in Wellington’s suburban trains after increased letters complain about some smoking carriages. The Wellington district traffic manager, Mr M. J. Linehan, said that many commuters had complained of having to ride in smoker carriages because non-smoker ones were full.

They objected to having other people breathing smoke on them, Mr Linehan said. Most trains have a two-to-one ratio of non-smok-ing to smoking carriages at present, but complaining commuters say that non-smoker carriages are often full while the smokers are half-mpty. Mr Linehan said that it had already been decided to ban smoking in the

new units which will go into service in 198'1. There was an ever-increasing demand for commuters to have clean air while travelling. Many bus services in the region already banned smoking, and he said that such a ban would just continue the trend. “People sit at the pictures without smoking for 90 minutes,” Mr Linehan said. “They should be able to do the same on trains. “No doubt some people would be inconvenienced, but a substantially greater number would be pleased.” A decision on whether to ban all smoking on suburban commuter trains will be made soon. Mr Linehan said that the department would consider the smokers’ point of view before any change was made, but any decision would have to reflect, the wishes of the majority of commuters.