Train operators around the country have a band of presentation staff who battle to keep train carriages clean for rail passengers.
However, Northern has released new research that has opened a debate on what actually is classed as littering.
2,000 rail users responded to the study and according to some, coffee cups left of trains is now considered littering – what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Even worse in people’s opinions was strong smelling food, which impacted their perception on whether the environment was clean, even if the food was fresh.
Every year, Northern’s Train Presentation Team carry out 695,000 carriage cleans, yet some of those who littered say they do not feel guilty about it, particularly on the impact of other train users.
Northern says that some of the cleaning that the team carry out can be expected given the wear and tear, however, the operator says that excess litter is just one example of one issue that takes up their time when the team could be completing other measures, including touch point cleans.
Northern collaborated with South Western Railway and Cowry Consulting on the research and the two operators are now looking at potential interventions that they can trial to encourage passengers to take their litter away with them.
“We’re always looking for ways to better understand our customers’ wants and needs.
“This project has been an interesting one and shows how a seemingly ‘open and shut’ topic actually has some fascinating behavioural science going on beneath the surface.”
Jack Commandeur, engineering director at Northern
Responses
Of course it’s litter – if there isn’t a bin within reach, take it with you!! Lazy people blaming everyone else for their own poor behaviour and attitude.
Not litter, the railway charge vendors to sell coffee to take on trains but do not put out bins, they are happy to take money but then whinge customers leave them around their trains/stations.
Answer, don’t buy their overpriced products
I’d happily put my cup in the bin if I could find one. Bins should be provided by all of the doors – as it is, there’s every chance that the only bin was in the other direction so I really don’t want to end up on a station that may not have a bin either. And no, I’m unlikely to get rid of the cup beforehand because I’d need to push past so many people only to find that the bin was in the other direction… Again.
PUT COFFEE CUPS IN THE BIN
Yes, anything left on a train table or thrown on the floor is litter. In the case of coffee cups it would be good if there was a recycling point at the end of each carriage. Some stations have vertical plastic tubes into which you can drop used coffee cups. Perhaps this method could be used on trains.
Yes absolutely and people should put plastic cups in the bin instead of leaving it on trains and at railway stations that do have bins. I don’t understand why that people leave plastic cups and just can’t be bothered to put them in the bin. There should be a fine for littering at stations and on trains. Or perhaps take plastic cups home and bin them at home.
Of course they are litter ! Why people can not follow the old rules of take your litter home with you ( or dispose of it in a bin) ? I t is just thoughtlessness and an assumption that some one else will clean up after them Ultimately I guess the cost of cleaning up is added to the ticket cost and over littered trains may be have to betaken out of service . One thought on the food isssues have food free coaches.