From Ridus.ru
Train passengers to be left without smoking areas
Russian Railways will not be organising special places for smoking on long-distance trains. The “Prime” agency reports that this is what the head of the Passenger Communication department of Russian Railways Gennadiy Verkhovykh has told journalists.
We recall that from the 1st of June this year, the so-called “anti-tobacco law” will come into force in Russia, introducing bans on smoking in public places. The sanctions for breaking this law have not been written into the law itself. In relation to this, law-makers are currently working on the requisite amendments to the administrative violations code of the Russian Federation.
“We have come to the conclusion that once the law exists, citizens must follow it”, Verkhovykh said in the corridors during the 58th meeting of the Council for the Commonwealth’s Rail Transport.
He added that smoking will be allowed on the platforms during stops for long-distance trains.
Earlier, the federal passenger company stated that they were examining the possibility of designating special smoking areas on long-distance trains.
Comments from Ridus.ru
Василий-7390:
People will smoke in the toilets, they can’t catch you in the toilets.
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
If they put smoke detectors like in aeroplanes and windows that you can’t open then it’ll be a decent way of making money from the fines. However, I suspect that at first you’ll be able to come to an agreement with the conductors before they start checking.
Василий-7390: (responding to above)
The police and the conductors already make good money from drunk people, this is just another line of income.
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
How do they earn money from “drunk people”?!
Василий-7390: (responding to above)
Listen. In the carriages, there are notices stuck up saying “drinking spirits strictly forbidden”. The conductor spots those who are breaking this rule while they go through checking tickets, or from the noise, etc., and then passes this on to the police. They then check documents, and take the rule-breakers with them. The Moscow-Ulianovsk train. I’ve seen this myself more than once.
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
I’ve never seen a sign like that before … and we’ve had a few drinks before. Even on the “Fat Lion” train (Moscow-Helsinki). It’s very convivial and noisy, with foreign students and groups of Russians :)
espera:
Or maybe [people could smoke] between carriages
John-1970:
No alternatives? Smokers are forbidden from travelling through Russia by train. Thanks civil servant idiots!
Bupyc:
Why is it forbidden? You’re welcome to travel, just don’t smoke.
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
Don’t write crap. Travelling and smoking are different, unrelated things.
Юный слесарь: (responding to above)
Same as smoking and going for a poo.
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
Don’t mix up natural needs and acquired urges. Should we allow cocaine and heroin?
Orlengos:
Crap, now I’m gonna go and travel by train!
R0Mi0: (responding to above)
I don’t know whether to be happy or not :)
DUB_DIVISION:
Boycott Russian Railways and everything to do with them!
espera:
With current prices train tickets, planes will soon turn out to be cheaper.
Денис-9344:
Now, there’s only one way out for smokers, to fly on budget airlines.
К.К.Михельсон:
That’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Ростислав Красноперов:
It’s been a year since it was forbidden to drink beer in public. Who is that stopping? The harshness of our laws compensates for the fact we don’t have to follow them.
тимур самодур:
I don’t smoke myself, but I’m offended on behalf of the smokers. First, people will go to jail for smoking, and then the dictatorship begins.
lol-sus:
Yeah, people are still gonna smoke, no-one will stop. If they put up cameras, then people will smoke in the toilets.
DrPrpr:
Well, really, why should a monopoly care about their customers?