On April 8th, passengers aboard high-speed trains in China are likely familiar with the following announcement:
"In the entire train of the high-speed rail, smoking is strictly prohibited. Smokers will be fined no less than 500 CNY and no more than 2000 CNY."
China's railway authority today reiterated the importance of smoking bans on high-speed trains through real-life incidents.
On March 25th at 19:30, during the passage of Train D3728 through the Yunan to Yunfu East section of the Guizhou-Guangzhou high-speed railway, a passenger named Ma smoked inside the restroom of the third carriage, triggering a smoke alarm and forcing the train to decelerate.
In accordance with the "People's Republic of China Law on Administrative Penalties for Public Security," Ma was detained for 5 days by the railway public security organs for disturbing public transportation order.
Another incident occurred on April 7th at 12:30, as Train G2189 was en route from Shanghai Hongqiao to Chengdu East, when a passenger named Zhou smoked near the connection between carriages 2 and 3, prompting immediate intervention by patrolling police.
According to relevant laws and regulations, Zhou was fined 500 CNY by the railway public security organs.
China's railway authority explained that smoking is strictly prohibited on high-speed trains because in the event of a fire, the high-speed moving train would quickly spread flames within the relatively enclosed space, leading to severe consequences.
Furthermore, high-speed trains are equipped with numerous smoke detectors, and smoking can easily trigger automatic smoke alarms, forcing the train to decelerate or even make an emergency stop, thereby compromising safety during transit.
According to the "Regulations on Railway Safety Management": Smoking on high-speed trains or in designated non-smoking areas on other trains shall be ordered to be corrected by the public security organs, with individuals facing fines ranging from 500 CNY to 2000 CNY; those who violate public security management shall be punished accordingly by the public security organs; those who commit crimes shall be held criminally responsible in accordance with the law.
