On August 15th， according to reports， a netizen shared their experience on the Z45 train， which clearly displayed “No Smoking” signs. Despite these prominent warnings， the netizen encountered a fellow passenger smoking， and the train staff’s inaction was noted.
The netizen stated that they boarded the Z45 train， traveling from Wuchang to Hangzhou， on July 30th. They had confirmed through both online searches and offline inquiries that the entire train was designated as a non-smoking service.
However， around 4 AM， the netizen observed a passenger smoking. After their attempt to dissuade the smoker proved unsuccessful， the individual proceeded to smoke inside the train’s restroom. The netizen then reported the incident to a train attendant， who responded by stating they could not intervene as the activity was not within their direct line of sight.
The netizen emphasized the presence of “No Smoking” signs throughout the carriage and auditory announcements reinforcing the non-smoking policy. They questioned why train personnel seemed unable to enforce these regulations. Subsequently， the netizen attempted to file a complaint on the 12306 platform， but the submissions failed. Their phone complaint yielded a response similar to what the train attendant had initially stated.
A customer service representative from 12306 clarified that trains bearing “No Smoking” signage do not necessarily enforce a strict ban. They explained that such signs might serve as a recommendation rather than a mandate. While high-speed and bullet trains strictly prohibit smoking， the enforcement on conventional (普速， pǔ sù) trains might be less rigorous. The representative further elaborated that some conventional trains may still feature ashtrays and designated smoking areas despite having “No Smoking” signs.
The customer service recommended that if passengers find the presence of smoke bothersome on conventional trains， they should call the 12306 hotline to provide feedback.
An official from the National Railway Supervision Hotline commented that if “No Smoking” signs are displayed， the train attendants have a duty to劝阻 (quàn zǔ)， meaning to advise against or persuade against the action. However， they clarified that train attendants do not possess law enforcement authority and suggested that passengers contact the railway police for such matters.
Objective Analysis: This incident highlights a potential discrepancy between signage and actual enforcement policies on different classes of Chinese trains. While “No Smoking” signs are displayed to promote passenger comfort and safety， their interpretation and the authority of staff to enforce them appear to vary， particularly on conventional trains compared to their high-speed counterparts. Factors such as the design intentions of the signage (promotional vs. mandatory)， the operational policies of different train types， and the specific training and empowerment of train personnel likely contribute to these variations. The feedback from 12306 suggests a need for clearer communication to passengers regarding the specific smoking regulations applicable to each train service， as well as potentially reinforcing the training and enforcement capabilities of onboard staff on conventional services when “No Smoking” policies are in place.
