China: Bullet Train Smokers Risk Detention

Source from:  Shanghai Daily (cn)  12/25/2012

SMOKERS on high-speed rail lines may be detained as Shanghai railway operators strengthen the crackdown on smoking onboard.
 
The detention can range from five days to 10 days, said the Shanghai Railway Bureau. The change is effective immediately.

 

A series of smoking cases have forced the bullet trains to slow down and even stop for safety reasons this year around the country, said the railway authorities. That has caused officials to reconsider the punishment - which have been just a 200 yuan (US$32) fine - after their warnings did not stop the misbehavior.
 
The alarm system on the bullet trains, which is relatively sensitive, will trigger an automatic slowdown and braking once smoke is detected, according to the operator.
 
"Any breakdowns along the track may cause serious safety problems," said officials.
 
The operator once found that some smokers threw cigarette butts into garbage cans in toilets, causing fires. The train staff had to use extinguishers to put out the fires.
 
Smoking is banned on all high-speed trains and reminders are regularly broadcast on every train.

The Hefei-Bengbu fast rail line, operated by the Shanghai Railway Bureau and opened in October, was forced to stop twice and slow down two times due to smoking alerts.
 
According to regulations, it is the train attendants' responsibility to stop passengers from smoking on the trains. However, last year, railway staff apologized to passengers after they themselves were found taking a puff on a bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai. Enditem