London’s public transport system is no stranger to the daily hustle, the clatter of trains, and the quiet hum of hundreds of thousands of commuters. But lately, there’s been another, less welcome soundtrack: loud music, blaring videos, and phone calls on speaker echoing through carriages and buses. Now, Transport for London (TfL) is taking a stand, launching a bold new campaign to tackle the so-called “headphone dodgers”—those few passengers who choose to share their playlists, calls, or viral videos with everyone around them, whether they like it or not.
On August 26, 2025, TfL rolled out a poster and social media blitz encouraging all passengers to use headphones when listening to music or making calls while traveling. The campaign, which is a fresh phase of TfL’s broader #TravelKind initiative (first launched in 2017), is more than just a gentle nudge. It’s a response to mounting frustration among Londoners and a call for a bit of old-fashioned courtesy.
“The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when travelling on public transport in the capital, but the small minority who play music or videos out loud can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys,” Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance said in a statement published by Global Railway Review. “TfL’s new campaign will remind and encourage Londoners to always be considerate of other passengers. However Londoners spend their journey, whether catching up on their favourite series or listening to music, we want everyone to have a pleasant journey.”
The campaign is rooted in research. According to a recent TfL survey of 1,000 customers, 70 percent reported finding loud music and phone conversations without headphones disruptive. And while most Londoners already plug in, it only takes a few “headphone dodgers” to create an unpleasant or even stressful environment, especially for those with conditions like autism who are particularly sensitive to noise. Emma Strain, TfL’s Customer Director, summed it up: “Most people use headphones, but even just a small number of people not doing so can create an unpleasant or even stressful environment for others, with the majority of customers we asked agreeing that this is disruptive behaviour. That’s why we’re reminding people to put their headphones on if they don’t already, to give others the stress-free journey they’d expect for themselves.”
The timing of the campaign is no accident. With 4G and 5G coverage now rolling out across large swathes of the Tube, Elizabeth line, and other services, passengers are more connected than ever. That’s a double-edged sword: it’s easier to stream music, binge-watch shows, or make video calls on the go, but it also means more chances for inconsiderate noise to spill out into shared spaces. TfL’s posters first appeared on the Elizabeth line—the UK’s busiest railway, handling some 800,000 journeys per day—and will soon be seen on buses, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, London Underground, and London Trams.
As part of the push, TfL has teamed up with audio brand JBL to offer a little extra incentive. Passengers can enter an Instagram competition to win one of five pairs of wireless JBL Live 770 NC headphones by liking a post, following both TfL and JBL UK, and tagging a friend in the comments. It’s a playful way to get the message across, but the underlying goal is serious: fostering a culture of respect and consideration on London’s crowded network.
Mobile connectivity improvements have been a point of pride for TfL, and they’re not slowing down. Central London Tube lines now boast extensive 4G and 5G coverage, with recent expansions on the Northern, Piccadilly, Jubilee, and Victoria lines. The Elizabeth line, which completed its high-speed coverage last year, allows seamless connectivity for passengers traveling through key stations like Whitechapel, Stratford, Canary Wharf, Custom House, and Woolwich. The project, in partnership with Boldyn Networks and all four major mobile operators—Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2—aims for full high-speed coverage across the entire network in the coming months.
But not everyone thinks posters and competitions go far enough. The Liberal Democrats, who have campaigned on this issue for months, want the government to take tougher action. Paul Kohler, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport and Wimbledon MP, was quick to respond to TfL’s announcement. “I’m pleased Transport for London are listening to the Liberal Democrats. We’ve been campaigning on this issue for a number of months and I’m glad TfL and others are finally paying attention to our campaign,” Kohler said in a statement released on August 26, 2025. “Playing music & videos out loud on public transport has a real impact on other passengers’ lives. It’s often thoughtless, and sometimes deliberately intimidating, but always wrong. It’s now time for the Government to face the music by silencing it, with tougher action including Fixed Penalty Notices across all public transport and a publicity campaign to put an end to headphone dodging.”
This call for stricter penalties echoes recent moves in Ireland, where Irish Rail has introduced fines for passengers who play music out loud. Kohler’s stance is clear: “People are sick and tired of headphone dodgers playing loud music on public transport, ruining people’s journeys, when they’re just trying to get from A to B in peace. The Government needs to answer the silent majority who don’t inflict their noise on others by taking a leaf out of Irish Rail’s book, and backing the Lib Dems’ calls for tough action and fines for the anti-social headphone dodgers.”
The issue isn’t unique to London. On the same day as TfL’s campaign launch, Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority announced plans to strengthen their own campaign encouraging passengers to use headphones on buses. Blake Boland, spokesperson for Dublin Bus, spoke candidly on RTÉ’s Drivetime: “Many times I have been there, people are catching up on social media or calling friends on FaceTime out loud on speakerphone. People deserve a more comfortable bus journey… that 30-minute window on the bus on the way home is a little bit of me time.” Boland emphasized education and common courtesy over heavy-handed enforcement, noting that while drivers can ask passengers to lower the volume if notified, the priority is always safety. “A bus driver may have 80 passengers on board in a 10-metre-long vehicle, they have a job to do there, they need to concentrate,” he said. “That is why we ask people not to distract them.”
Boland also addressed the idea of silent carriages, calling it “an interesting prospect” but ultimately unworkable for buses, which are essentially one open cabin. “You want people to be able to have that conversation with their friends… There can be a lot of value in connecting with people.” The focus, then, remains on education, gentle reminders, and the hope that most people will simply do the right thing.
As Londoners and Dubliners alike navigate their daily commutes, one thing is clear: the push for quieter, more considerate journeys is gaining momentum. Whether through posters, competitions, or calls for fines, transport authorities are determined to stamp out headphone dodging and restore a bit of peace to the public ride. For now, the message is simple—plug in, turn it down, and let everyone enjoy the journey.
