Millions of people every day travel on the London Underground.
The tube in England’s capital is a convenient way to travel for commuters and tourists alike – but breaking one etiquette rule could see you handed a fine in a rule not known by everyone in Britain.
Now, if you’ve ever been to the Big Smoke you’ll know that many of the underground platforms are accessed by escalator as some are deep within the ground. Of course, accessible stations like Kings Cross or Vauxhall have lifts, but many stations rely solely on stairs and escalators.
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If you choose to use one of the escalators it’s important to remember to stand on the right. This allows fellow passengers who are in a rush to pass by you on the left as they often do when running for the next train.
However, it turns out that this piece of transport advice isn’t just a social rule. It’s one of the many by-laws that keep the Transport for London (TfL) network running smoothly, reports MyLondon.
It may seem extreme, but if you’re caught breaking the "stand on the right" rule then you might be fined a whopping £1,000. Now, how commonly the by-law is enforced is another question – but the risk is there so you might want to follow the advice of the signs posted around the nation!
Railway by-laws, made by Transport for London (TfL) under the Greater London Authority Act 1999, state: "No person shall use any escalator on the railway except by standing or walking on it in the direction intended for travel. Persons shall keep to the right of escalators when not walking up, down or along them."
"If this rule is breached, the person has commited an offence and "may be liable for each such offence to a penalty not exceeding level three on the standard scale." A level three fine amounts to a maximum of £1,000.
It’s not the only rule you have to follow on the tube either. Under section 67 of the Transport Act 1962 for regulating the use of its railways passengers are told to allow other commuters to exit the train before pushing their way inside.
The clause comes under section 10 of the by-laws and reads: "No person shall enter through any train door until any person leaving by that door has passed through it." This is also subject to a £1,000 fine.
Meanwhile, under the Transport Act, under section three it is outlines that: "No person shall enter, attempt to enter or remain on the railway if he is unfit as a result of being drunk or under the influence of controlled drugs." So if you’re a bit squiffy from a night out you may want to opt for a taxi instead.
Under section six of the act, unacceptable behaviour, it reads: "No person shall leave litter or waste on the railway except in receptacles specifically provided by the operator for those purposes." The same section also states: "No person shall spit on the railway.”
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