Smoking is strictly prohibited on board European trains, this includes electronic cigarettes. Moreover, it is not allowed to smoke on most train platforms and rail stations as they're public spaces, where you should earch for designated areas such as smoking lounges or zones marked with a sign indicating that smoking is allowed. In the contrary case, be informed that you may be fined for smoking in undesignated areas.
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Train Stations, Station Platforms and Station Buildings
Train stations are public spaces, so smoking isn't allowed in most station buildings or on most station platforms. Instead, look for a designated smoking area. These are usually marked by a sign, a painted zone, or an ashtray stand at the end of the platform, and some larger stations also have smoking lounges.Smoking rules in public places also apply to station forecourts in some cities. If you're spending time at the station before your train, see what amenities European train stations have to plan where to wait.
Why European Countries Banned Smoking
Not long ago, many trains had a smoking car, often the last car of the train, or a smoking section within a carriage. Today, European countries have banned smoking completely on passenger trains, and dedicated smoking compartments have been phased out on passenger trains around the world. Separate smoking compartments rarely kept the smoke contained: second hand smoke drifted into other cars through doors and air vents, and the smell stayed in seats and fabrics long after the smoker had left. Health concerns for non-smokers and train crews were the main reason for the change. Poland is a good example of how strict the rules have become
Amtrak Trains and Long Distance Smoking Stops
In the United States, smoking is prohibited on all Amtrak trains. All Amtrak trains are entirely non-smoking, including sleeper car rooms, lounges, dining cars, and the Auto Train, which carries passengers together with their cars. On long routes to and from New Orleans and on other cross-country services, these stops can be the only chance to smoke during a long trip. Keep in mind that local or state laws may override any allowance for smoking during designated train stops, so a stop that was allowed in one state may not be in another. Learn more about trains in the United States before you go.
Fines, Police and the Law
Breaking the smoking rules can be expensive. Passengers can be removed from trains for smoking violations, and in many countries railway staff or police can issue on-the-spot fines. Since rules and fines differ from country to country, the safest approach is simple: don't smoke on board, and only smoke in clearly marked areas at stations. Before you travel, check the rules of the operator and country you'll be traveling in, along with other practical details like whether there's food on trains.
FAQ: Is Smoking Allowed on Trains?
- Can I light an e-cigarette or tobacco in the toilet or a closed room? Will smoke detectors notice?
No, and yes, they will. Lighting tobacco or using an e-cigarette in a toilet or any closed room on board breaks the rules, and modern smoke detectors are sensitive enough to pick up both smoke and vapor.
- Is there any train trip where smokers can sit in smoking seats or the last car?On regular passenger trains in Europe and the US, no. Smoking cars, including the traditional last car, and smoking seats are a thing of the past. Smokers will need to wait for a designated area at a station.
- Do sleeper car rooms or dining cars accommodate smokers at night?No. Even private sleeper rooms and dining cars don't accommodate smokers, at night or at any other time. Plan to smoke at stations before boarding or during a smoking stop on long-distance routes.
- Can I pay an additional cost to smoke, or is it simply not legal?There's no way to pay an additional cost to smoke on board. Smoking on trains isn't legal or permitted by operators in Europe or on Amtrak, and anyone who does can be fined.
- How do the train crew and Amtrak employees answer questions about smoking breaks?The train crew on European trains and Amtrak employees in the US can tell you where the designated smoking areas are at upcoming stations and whether the train will make a longer stop. Just ask them for an answer before you step off.