“Whether you’re on the street, in a coffee shop, or even on public transport, the goal is to minimize the impact your conversation has on everyone around you.”
A man in France was fined $207 for using his phone’s speaker during a call. The man, identified as David, was on a call with his sister at Nantes station when an official from the state-owned SNCF told him that if he didn’t turn off the speaker, he would be fined €150. He thought it was a joke, but the official wasn’t joking. She issued him a fine of €150, which increased to €200 because he couldn’t pay it on the spot. David now plans to hire a lawyer and contest the fine.
The railway company confirmed to the BBC that he was fined in the quiet area of the station but disputed David’s version of events. The company stated that the situation escalated before the security official—who is authorized to fine passengers—issued the penalty. Additionally, the amount increased after he refused to pay.
A 2024 phone etiquette survey by YouGov revealed that Americans consider speaking loudly in public and using speakerphones in shared spaces unacceptable behaviors. Yet it is becoming increasingly common to encounter someone on a train, on a flight, or walking down the street using their phone’s speaker to blast music or make calls. People are also scrolling through social media or taking work calls on speaker, seemingly unaware that their private conversations and activities are not for public consumption.
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More often than not, this behavior disrupts those who are forced to listen. Taya Cohen, a professor of organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie Mellon University, told USA Today that people often fail to consider how their noise might affect others or whether others even want to hear it.
@mrjackskipper On the train is the worst #relatable ♬ original sound – Jack Skipper
Reddit forums and internet articles are filled with complaints about travelers who annoy others while commuting, dining, or relaxing. However, there are widely accepted etiquette guidelines, one of which is to use headphones. Whenever you are in public, you should avoid disturbing others, which also includes talking loudly—even through headphones—in quiet spaces like metro or train compartments. “Whether you’re on the street, in a coffee shop, or even on public transport, the goal is to minimize the impact your conversation has on everyone around you. Being discreet and respectful makes all the difference,” Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, told KTLA.
No to Nuisance
There will always be those who ignore politeness and etiquette, but for them, there are official guidelines. France is not the only country enforcing rules to reduce noise. In the U.K., railways prohibit passengers from using equipment that produces sound that annoys others.
In Australia, Queensland Rail bans certain inappropriate behaviors, including playing loud music on trains. In Perth, passengers can be fined between AU$100 and AU$500 for disrupting others. In 2022, Indian Railways—one of the longest railway networks in the world—banned passengers from talking on the phone or playing loud music on speaker at night after receiving numerous complaints.
In Japan, a country renowned for its emphasis on manners, it is rare to see anyone being loud in public. Disturbing others is strictly frowned upon, and the norm is to remain as quiet as possible. Japan Rail Pass provides a list of tips for travelers to navigate the railway system without committing faux pas during their trips.
n many European countries, including Denmark, the U.K., and the Netherlands, trains have quiet cars where passengers are prohibited from making noise. Amtrak in the United States also offers quiet cars. The company specifies, “Phone calls are not allowed, and all portable electronic devices must be used with headphones (passengers using headphones must keep the volume low enough so that the audio cannot be heard by other passengers).”
Related: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking an Amtrak Sleeper
