Indian Railways Warning: Now talking loudly in trains or on railway premises, playing audio-options or videos on speakers can be costly, as the railways have issued a big warning that heavy fines can be imposed on any passenger found doing so. Along with this the passenger can also be sent to jail.
South-Western Railway (and Southern Railway) has directed all its divisions to sensitize passengers against talking loudly on mobile phones and playing audio or video on speaker. The railways further said that if a passenger does not believe, he can be prosecuted under Section 145 of the Railway Act, which carries a fine of up to Rs 1,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.
Railways said that this warning has been issued with an aim to make the journey of rail passengers comfortable. In this directive issued on October 6, 2026, the Chennai-based Southern Railway headquarters asked its divisions to inform passengers of the inconvenience caused to others by such behaviour.
Railway zones have asked their divisions to convey this message in local languages, Hindi and English through ‘public address system’. Along with this, a notice will also be put up to inform the passengers that talking loudly on the phone or playing audio-video on the speaker will cause problems to other passengers. Railways said in its letter that passengers should use earphones while using their phones.
Such an order was also issued in the year 2012
In this new directive, the Railways has referred to a letter dated 23 July 2012 from the Board. The letter was issued at that time on complaints of passengers talking loudly on mobile phones, having long conversations and using alarming ringtones in railway coaches (especially in AC coaches).
The Railway Board then directed the railway officials to inform the passengers that such behavior adversely affects the comfort of other passengers. It also advised keeping mobile phones on silent or vibration mode, using low volume ringtones and avoiding loud conversations.
Railways said that with mobile internet available everywhere, it has become common to play videos and other content from phone speakers in public places. This calls for strict measures to prevent inconvenience to passengers.
Who will have the right to impose fines?
These directives have been issued to Senior Divisional Commercial Managers of Chennai, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Salem divisions. The directive said that under the provisions of the Railway Act, commercial staff of the rank of Ticket Examiner (TTE) or above have the right to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on those causing such nuisance.
The letter referred to section 145(2)(a) as amended under the ‘Public Trust (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026’. This section deals with matters like causing nuisance, making obscene gestures, using abusive or vulgar language and willfully obstructing railway facilities, thereby affecting the comfortable journey of passengers.
It also provides for evicting a person from railway premises in some cases. Also, if a person continues to cause trouble despite refusal, he may be punished more severely. The Railways has asked the concerned divisions to take necessary action and submit an implementation report in this regard to its headquarters by October 20, 2026.