Metrolink bosses get tough with £1,000 fines

ANYONE travelling from Rochdale on the Metrolink could be fined £1,000 if they swear, vape, get drunk or litter on trams and stations.

Metrolink bosses are taking a tougher stance than ever before on nuisance behaviour in a bid to stamp out troublemakers in the borough and across the whole tram network.

Flouting the rules, which are based on pre-existing key bylaws, would previously only have resulted in a dressing down by tram staff, however, now passengers will be prosecuted and forced by a court to pay out.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said such a fine has yet to be dished out in 2019 – but staff have been handed the powers to get the ball rolling on the penalty.

In the year to July 2018, there were 520 reported bylaw offences across the Metrolink network.

The most reported offences to July 2018 were throwing objects, verbal abuse and improper use of emergency door handle activation.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Metrolink Monsters campaign first appeared in March.

At the time, it focused on annoying behaviours like sneezing without covering your face or talking loudly on your mobile phone.

This time, it’s been ramped up to cover illegal behaviours, represented by new monsters such as Smoky Joe, Drunken Duncan and Vaping Vera.

Aline Frantzen, managing director at KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “Behind the lighthearted nature of the campaign is a serious message.

“There are some unacceptable behaviours which spoil the Metrolink experience for law-abiding passengers, and we want to make it clear that these actions have serious consequences.

“From January, those who engage in illegal activity will face fines and court action, so it’s better for everyone to avoid becoming a ‘Smokey Joe’ or a ‘Naughty Nelly.’”