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Transport for London

Byelaws

London Regional Transport Railways Byelaws

Made under section 67 of the Transport Act 1962 as amended by section 37 of the Transport Act 1981 and paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 to London Regional Transport Act 1984 by London Regional Transport and confirmed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions on 19 December 2000 for regulating the use and working of, and travel on their railways and railway premises and the conduct of all persons while on those premises ("The Byelaws").

Contents

Preamble: Railway Byelaws - Why they help us to help you

Conduct and behaviour

  1. Queueing
  2. Potentially dangerous items
  3. No smoking
  4. Intoxication and possession of intoxicating liquor
  5. Unfit to be on the railway
  6. Unacceptable behaviour
  7. Music, sound, advertising and carrying on a trade
  8. Unauthorised gambling

Equipment and safety

  1. Stations and railway premises
  2. Trains
  3. General safety
  4. Safety instructions

Control of premises

  1. Unauthorised access and loitering
  2. Traffic signs, causing obstructions and parking
  3. Pedestrian-only areas
  4. Control of animals

Travel and fares

  1. Compulsory ticket areas
  2. Ticketless travel in non-compulsory ticket areas
  3. Classes of accommodation, reserved seats and sleeping berths
  4. Altering a ticket and use of altered tickets
  5. Unauthorised buying or selling of tickets
  6. Fares offences committed on behalf of another person

Enforcement and interpretation

  1. Name and address
  2. Enforcement
    • (1) Offence and level of fines
    • (2) Removal of persons
    • (3) Identification of authorised persons
    • (4) Notices
    • (5) Attempts
    • (6) Breaches by authorised persons
  3. Interpretation
    • (1) Definitions
    • (2) Preamble, table of contents and headings
    • (3) Plural
    • (4) Gender
  4. Coming into operation of these Byelaws and revocation of previous Byelaws
  5. Certificate of authenticity

RAILWAYS BYELAWS

Railway Bylaws - Why they help us to help you

Britain's Railways cover every train, track and station, including London's Underground, across the country. Thousands of trains use as many stations throughout the day and night. To ensure ease of travel and safety on the Railway system, including passengers, staff, property and equipment, the Byelaws need to be observed by everyone.

Conduct and Behaviour

Some practices can be generally unpleasant, or can be dangerous to yourselves and others. To make travelling more comfortable and safer, unacceptable behaviour is banned on the Railways. Other activities, such as smoking and music have limits imposed on them so that the majority of Railway users can travel in comfort.

Equipment and safety

Safety is paramount to the running of all railway services. The Byelaws are very clear on matters of safety - and this protects equipment and property, as well as users and staff.

Control of premises

There are areas across the railway system that have to be restricted access, for example pedestrian-only areas, as using other forms of transport (eg bicycles), may cause a danger. Also, access is not allowed on any non-public parts of an operating network, such as railway embankments. Various rules relating to carriage of animals are also needed.

Travel and fares

When travelling, you need to know when and where you need a ticket, and where you can go once you have it. For example; can you use another person's ticket?

If you would like to know more, in addition to the Byelaws there are further details for passengers in the conditions of travel which apply to your ticket.

The Byelaws are there to help everyone to travel easily and safely. This can only be achieved if all users take time to consider their actions and observe the Byelaws.

A full copy of the Railway Byelaws can be obtained from:
The Company Secretary
London Underground Limited
55 Broadway
London SW1H 0BD
London Regional Transport Railways Byelaws

For definitions of the terms used in these byelaws please refer to the end of this document.

Conduct and Behaviour

1. Queueing

  1. The Operator or an authorised person may require any person to queue in order to regulate order or safety on or near the railway.
  2. Any person directed by a notice to queue or when asked to queue by an authorised person, shall join the rear of the queue and obey the reasonable instructions of any authorised person regulating the queue.

2. Potentially dangerous items

  1. Except with written permission from the Operator or an authorised person, no person shall bring with him or allow to remain on the railway any item which, in the opinion of an authorised person, may threaten, annoy, soil or damage any person or any property. For the avoidance of doubt, the Operator may ban, amongst other things, carriage of the following items:
    • (i) a loaded weapon of any kind;
    • (ii) any inflammable, explosive or corrosive substance; (iii) any item which is or may become dangerous.
    • If any person in charge of an item in breach of Byelaw 2 (1) is asked by an authorised person to remove it and fails to do so immediately, then it may be removed by or under the direction of an authorised person.

    3. No smoking

    No person shall smoke or carry a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, match, lighter or other lighted item on any part of the railway on or near which there is a notice indicating that smoking is not allowed.

    4. Intoxication and possession of intoxicating liquor

    1. No person in a state of intoxication shall enter or remain on the railway.
    2. Where reasonable notice is, or has been given prohibiting intoxicating liquor on any train service, no person shall have any intoxicating liquor with him on it, or attempt to enter such train with intoxicating liquor with him.
    3. Where an authorised person reasonably believes that any person is in a state of intoxication or has with him intoxicating liquor contrary to this Byelaw, the authorised person may:
      (i) require him to leave the railway; and
      (ii) prevent him entering or remaining on the railway until the authorised person is satisfied that he has no intoxicating liquor with him.

    5. Unfit to be on the railway

    No person shall enter or remain on the railway if, in the reasonable opinion of an authorised person, he is in an unfit or improper condition or his clothing may soil or damage any part of the railway or the clothing of any person.

    6. Unacceptable behaviour

    1. No person shall use any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language.
    2. No person shall behave in a disorderly, indecent or offensive manner.
    3. No person shall write, draw, paint or fix anything on the property of the railway.
    4. No person shall soil any part of the railway.
    5. No person shall damage or detach any property on the railway.
    6. No person shall spit.
    7. No persons shall drop litter or dump waste.
    8. No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of any person on the railway.

    7. Music, sound, advertising and carrying on a trade

    1. Except with written permission from the Operator no person on the railway shall, to the annoyance of any person:
      (i) sing; or
      (ii) use any instrument, article or equipment for the production or reproduction of sound.
    2. Except with written permission from the Operator no person on the railway shall:
      (i) display anything for the purpose of advertising or publicity, or distribute anything; or
      (ii) sell or expose or offer anything for sale; or
      (iii) tout for, or solicit money, reward, custom or employment of any kind.
    3. A person shall have the written permission referred to in this Byelaw 7 with him when undertaking the activities referred to in Byelaw 7(1) or 7 (2)(iii) on the railway and shall hand it over for inspection when asked by an authorised person. A person shall comply with any conditions attached to the written permission.

    8. Unauthorised gambling

    No person shall gamble on any part of the railway except lawful gambling on premises authorised by the Operator for that purpose.

    Equipment and Safety

    9. Stations and railway premises

    1. No person shall use any escalator except by standing or walking on it in the direction intended for travel.
    2. Where the entrance to or exit from any platform or station is via an automatic ticket barrier no person shall enter or leave the station, except with permission from an authorised person, without passing through the barrier in the correct manner.
    3. No person shall open a barrier or any other gate on the railway except where there is a notice indicating that it may be used by him or with permission from an authorised person.
    4. Where there is a notice by an entrance or exit on any part of the railway indicating that it shall be used for entrance or exit only, no person shall enter by the exit or leave by the entrance. No person shall enter or leave by an emergency exit except in an emergency or when directed to do so by an authorised person.
    5. No person shall move, operate or stop any lift or escalator except: (i) in an emergency by means of equipment on or near which is a notice indicating that it is intended to be used in an emergency; or (ii) in case of a lift, by means of any of the controls intended for the use of passengers.

    10. Trains

    1. No person shall enter through any train door until any person leaving by that door has passed through.
    2. No person shall be in or on any train except on the parts of it intended for the use of that person.
    3. No person shall open a train door, or enter or leave any train, while it is in motion or between stations.
    4. No person shall enter or leave a train except by proper use of a train door.
    5. In the case of automatic closing train doors, no person shall enter or leave by the door when it is closing.

    11. General safety

    1. No person shall move, operate, obstruct, stop or in any other way interfere with any automatic closing train door, train, or any other equipment on the railway except: (i) in an emergency, by means of any equipment on or near which is a notice indicating that is intended to be used in an emergency; or (ii) any equipment intended for the use of passengers in that way in normal operating circumstances.
    2. No person shall place, throw, drop or trail anything capable of injuring, damaging or endangering any person or any property on the railway.

    12. Safety instructions

    1. The Operator may issue to any person reasonable instructions relating to safety on any part of the railway by means of a notice on or near that part of the railway. No person, without good cause, shall disobey such notice.
    2. An authorised person may, in an emergency or in other circumstances in which he believes he should act in the interest of safety, issue instructions to any person on any part of the railway. No person, without good cause, shall disobey such instruction.
    3. No offence is committed under these Byelaws where a person proves he was acting in accordance with the instructions or notice given under this Byelaw.

    Control of Premises

    13. Unauthorised access and loitering

    1. No person shall enter or remain on any part of the railway where there is a notice: (i) prohibiting access; or (ii) indicating that it is reserved or provided for a specified category of person only, except where he belongs to that specified category.
    2. No person shall loiter on the railway if asked to leave by an authorised person.

    14. Traffic signs, causing obstructions and parking

    1. No person in charge of any motor vehicle, bicycle or other conveyance shall use it on any part of the railway in contravention of any traffic sign.
    2. No person in charge of any motor vehicle, bicycle or other conveyance shall leave or place it on any part of the railway: (i) in any manner or place where it may cause an obstruction or hindrance to the Operator or any person using the railway; or (ii) otherwise than in accordance with any instructions of the Operator (or other person on its behalf) or directions from an authorised person.
    3. No person in charge of any motor vehicle, bicycle or other conveyance shall park where charges are made for parking by the Operator (or other person on its behalf) without paying the appropriate charge at the appropriate time in accordance with instructions given by the Operator (or other person on its behalf ) at that place.
    4. (i) Any motor vehicle, bicycle or other conveyance used, left or placed in breach of these Byelaws may be clamped, removed, and stored, by or under the direction of an authorised person. (ii) The owner of the motor vehicle, bicycle or other conveyance shall be liable to the Operator (or other such person of its behalf) for the costs incurred in clamping, removing, storing and/or disposing of it from any area provided that there is in that area or the nearest station, a notice advising that any vehicle parked contrary to these Byelaws may be clamped, removed, stored and/or disposed of by the Operator (or other person on its behalf) and that the costs incurred by the Operator (or other person on its behalf) for this may be recovered from the vehicle's owner. (iii) The power of clamping referred to in sub-paragraph (i) above shall not be exercisable in any area where passenger parking is permitted unless there is on display in that area a notice advising that any vehicle parked contrary to these Byelaws may be clamped by the Operator (or other person on its behalf).

    15. Pedestrian-only areas

    1. Any person who enters or is on any part of the railway to which the public have access must be on foot, except; (i) where there is a notice permitting access to that part of the railway to those with specified conveyances; or (ii) where the Operator or an authorised person has given permission, and in either case he shall obey any instructions given.
    2. No person shall be in breach of this Byelaw for properly using a baby carriage or wheelchair, except where there is a notice or instructions given by an authorised person to the contrary.

    16. Control of animals

    1. The Operator may refuse carriage or entry to any animal.
    2. No person shall bring an animal on to the railway without a valid ticket for that animal, if the Operator requires him to have a valid ticket for the carriage of such an animal.
    3. Except with permission from the Operator or an authorised person, no person shall bring an animal on to the railway which, in the opinion of an authorised person, may threaten, annoy, soil or damage any person or property.
    4. If any person in charge of an animal in breach of Byelaw 16(1), (2) or (3) is asked by an authorised person to remove it and fails to do so immediately, then it may be removed by or under the direction of an authorised person.
    5. No person in charge of an animal shall allow it to foul or damage any part of the railway.
    6. Any person in charge of an animal shall carry it when on an escalator that is in motion.
    7. No person in charge of any animal shall leave or place it unattended on any part of the railway (except in a place provided for that purpose by the Operator and only for as long as is absolutely necessary and in accordance with any direction of the Operator or an authorised person).
    8. Any animal left or placed in breach of Byelaw 16(7) may be removed and/or stored by or under the direction of an authorised person. The person in charge of the animal shall be liable to the Operator for the cost incurred by the Operator (or other person on its behalf) in removing and storing it.
    9. Any person in charge of an animal that has soiled or caused damage to any part of the railway shall be liable to the Operator for the cost of putting the property soiled or damaged back into its proper condition.
    10. Any liability to the Operator under Byelaw 16(8) or (9) is in addition to any penalty for the breach of Byelaw 16.

    Travel and Fares

    17. Compulsory ticket areas

    1. No person shall enter a compulsory ticket area unless he has with him a valid ticket.
    2. A person shall hand over his ticket for inspection when asked to do so by an authorised person.

    18. Ticketless travel in non-compulsory ticket areas

    1. In any area not designated as a compulsory ticket area no person shall enter any train for the purpose of travelling unless he has with him a valid ticket entitling him to travel.
    2. A person shall hand over this ticket for inspection when asked to do so by an authorised person.
    3. No person shall be in breach of this Byelaw 18 if: (i) there were no facilities for the issue of tickets available at the time when and the station where he began his journey; or (ii) there was a notice at the station where he began his journey indicating that he may travel without a valid ticket; or (iii) an authorised person gave him permission to travel without a valid ticket.

    19. Classes of accommodation, reserved seats and sleeping berths

    Except with permission of an authorised person, no person shall remain in any seat, berth or any part of a train where a notice indicates that it is reserved for a specified ticket holder or holders of tickets of a specific class, except the holder of a valid ticket entitling him to be in that particular place.

    20. Altering a ticket and use of altered tickets

    1. No person shall alter any ticket in any way with the intent that the Operator or any other railway Operator shall be defrauded or prejudiced.
    2. No person shall knowingly use any ticket, which has been altered in any way in breach of Byelaw 20(1).

    21. Unauthorised buying or selling of tickets

    1. Subject to Byelaw 21(4), no person shall sell or buy any ticket.
    2. Subject to Byelaw 21(4), no person shall transfer or receive any unused or partly used ticket, intending that any person shall use it for travelling.
    3. Subject to Byelaw 21(4) no person shall knowingly use any ticket which has been obtained in breach of this Byelaw.
    4. The sale or transfer by, or the purchase or receipt from, an authorised person in the course of his duties or from an authorised ticket machine is excepted from the provisions of this Byelaw.

    22. Fares offences committed on behalf of another person

    1. No person shall buy a ticket on behalf of another intending to enable that other person to travel without having paid the correct fare.
    2. No person shall transfer or produce a ticket on behalf of another intending to enable that other person to travel without having paid the correct fare.

    Enforcement and Interpretation

    23. Name and address

    1. Any person reasonably suspected by an authorised person of breaching or attempting to breach any of these Byelaws shall give his name and address when asked by an authorised person.
    2. The authorised person shall state the nature of the breach of any of these Byelaws in general terms.

    24. Enforcement

    1. Offence and level of fines
      Any person who breaches any of these Byelaws, except Byelaw 17, commits an offence and shall be liable for each such offence to a penalty not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
    2. Removal of persons
      (i) Any person who is reasonably believed by an authorised person to be in breach of any of these Byelaws shall leave the railway immediately if asked to do so by an authorised person.
      (ii) Any person who is reasonably believed by an authorised person to be in breach of any of these Byelaws and who fails to desist or leave when asked to do so by an authorised person may be removed from the railway by an authorised person using reasonable force. This right of removal is in addition to the imposition of any penalty for the breach of these Byelaws.
      (iii) No person shall fail to carry out the instructions of an authorised person acting in accordance with powers given by these Byelaws or any other enactment. (iv) In Byelaws 24(2)(i) and 24(2)(ii) the authorised person shall state the nature of the breach of any of these Byelaws in general terms.
    3. Identification of authorised persons
      An authorised person, who is exercising any power conferred on him by any of these Byelaws, shall produce a form of identification when requested to do so and such identification shall state the name of his employer and shall contain a means of identifying the authorised person.
    4. Notices
      No person shall be subject to any penalty for breach of any of the Byelaws by disobeying a notice unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the Court before whom the complaint is laid that the notice referred to in the particular Byelaw was displayed.
    5. Attempts
      Any person who attempts to breach any of the Byelaws numbered 9, 10, 11, 13(1), 20(2) and 21 shall be liable to the same penalty as given above for breach of that Byelaw.
    6. Breaches by authorised persons
      An authorised person acting in the course of his duties shall not be liable for breach of any of the Byelaws numbered 2, 4(2), 6(3) and (5), 7, 9, 10, 11(1), 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 20(1).

    25 Interpretation

    1. Definitions
      In these Byelaws the following expressions have the following meanings:
      "authorised person" means;

      (i) a person acting in the course of his duties, who is an employee or agent of or any other person authorised by the Operator or authorised by a person operating any railway assets, and

      (ii) any constable, acting in the execution of his duties upon or in connection with the railway;
      "compulsory ticket area" means any part of the railway identified by a notice stating that no person may enter there without being in possession of a valid ticket;
      "escalator" includes travelator or similar device;
      "intoxication" means being under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs or other substances;
      "intoxicating liquor" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Licensing Act 1964 (as amended or replaced from time to time);
      "notice" means a notice given by or on behalf of the Operator;
      "Operator" means London Regional Transport and any of its subsidiaries;
      "previous byelaws" means the byelaws previously made in relation to the railway by the London Transport Executive under the provisions of section 67 of the Transport Act 1962 as amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Transport (London) Act 1969 and Section 37 of the Transport Act 1981 on 26th May 1982 and confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport on 23rd September 1982 and varied by London Regional Transport and confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport on 1st September 1992 and 3rd April 1994.
      "railway" means the railways and railway premises of the Operator, and includes trains or any other vehicle upon the railway;
      "railway assets" means any train, station, depot, track or associated equipment of any person;
      "standard scale" has the same meaning as in section 37 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and any replacement, modification or amendment made thereto;
      "ticket" includes (i) a ticket (including one issued by another railway undertaking) authorising the person for whom it is issued to make the journey covered by the fare paid on a train provided by the Operator (whether or not it also authorises that person to make a journey on a train provided by another railway undertaking); (ii) any permit authorising the person to whom it is issued to travel on a train provided by the Operator (whether or not it also authorises that person to make a journey on a train provided by another railway undertaking); (iii) an authority to travel on a train provided by the Operator subject to a condition that payment of the correct fare for the person using that authority on which it is used is made during or at the end of that journey or otherwise as provided by the terms applicable to its use; (iv) a ticket authorising a person to enter a compulsory ticket area but not to make a train journey; (v) any type of free pass, privilege ticket, or any warrant, identity card, voucher or other similar authority accepted by the Operator as authority to travel, or in exchange for or on production of which a ticket for travel may be issued; (vi) any identity card, reservation or other document required by the Operator to be held or produced for use with other travel documents; and (vii) any other ticket or document issued for the purpose of travel of any animal or article on the railway accepted by the Operator.
      "traffic sign" means an object or device for conveying, to traffic or any specified class or traffic, warnings, information, requirements, restrictions or prohibitions of any kind;
      "train" means any railway train and includes any carriage or compartment of a train;
      "valid ticket" means a current ticket (including any associated photo/identity card and/or other travel document) lawfully obtained by or on behalf of the person using or attempting to use it and entitling that person to use the particular railway service he is using or attempting to use. Where the terms attaching to the ticket require validation of the ticket such ticket shall not be considered to be a valid ticket for the purposes of these Byelaws unless and until the ticket has been properly validated.
    2. Preamble, table of contents and headings
      The preamble, table of contents and headings used in these Byelaws are for assistance only and are not to be considered as part of these Byelaws for the purpose of interpretation.
    3. Plural
      Unless the context requires to the contrary, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.
    4. Gender
      Unless the context requires to the contrary, words importing one gender shall include the other gender.

    26. Coming into operation of these Byelaws and revocation of previous byelaws

    These Byelaws will come into operation in accordance with the provisions of section 67 of the Transport Act 1962. When these Byelaws come into effect, the previous Byelaws shall be revoked. This revocation is without prejudice to the validity of anything done under the previous Byelaws or to any liability incurred in respect of any act or omission before the date of the coming into operation of these Byelaws. The Common Seal of LONDON REGIONAL TRANSPORT in the presence of Secretary Frances Low on 15 June 2000. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions confirms the above Byelaws and fixes 18 February 2001 as the date the Byelaws shall come into operation.

    Signed by authority of SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS, Peter Thomas on 19 December 2000.

    27. Certificate of authenticity

    It is hereby certified that;

    1. the above Byelaws were made by London Regional Transport;
    2. this is a true copy of the Byelaws;
    3. on 19 December 2000 the Byelaws were confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions; and
    4. the Byelaws came into operation on 18 February 2001.
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