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2005-06-15 GNE-001
GNER
GNER to withdraw smoking on trains
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Press release
GNER
GNER to withdraw smoking on trains
date 15 June 2005
source GNER
type Press release
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TRAIN operator GNER is to withdraw smoking provision on its trains from Monday, 29 August.
The move is in direct response to passenger wishes and follows detailed research which showed that more than 90% of GNER passengers do not smoke and that most wanted smoking on trains to be abolished. Customer complaints about smoking have risen by 172% over the past two years, as passenger tolerances have reduced. Feedback also suggested that smoking on trains could be a deterrent to travel.
GNER’s chief operating officer Jonathan Metcalfe said: “We have regularly reviewed smoking provision on our trains over several years. During that time there has been a noticeable shift in passenger preferences, which has coincided with a hardening of attitudes about smoking in enclosed public places across society at large.
“Up until now we have tried hard to accommodate the diminishing number of people who wish to smoke whilst travelling with us, but it is now very clear that the majority of our passengers are in favour of a total ban on smoking on our trains. We have responded accordingly.”
GNER will be extensively communicating the forthcoming change ahead of its introduction from 29 August.
Christine Knights, chair of the Rail Passenger Committee’s East Coast Passengers Panel, said: “The RPC welcomes this move. We are pleased that GNER is responding to the feedback from passengers by banning smoking.”
GNER’s move follows similar smoking bans introduced by other public transport companies.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
GNER runs fast, frequent passenger rail services on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, the North East of England and Scotland, carrying almost 17 million passengers a year.
Railnews Archive ::: 2005-06-15 GNE-001
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