A Reminder about Safe Student Behaviour on Trains

As we are entering a new semester, we feel it is timely for parents to be made aware of the student code of conduct for travelling to and from school on the train. This code of conduct exists to ensure your child travels safely and shows respect for others. The following information is summarised from the Transport NSW website (https://transportnsw.info/student-code-conduct).

Students must follow these rules when using public transport. All students must behave in a manner that ensures both their comfort and safety and that of other passengers.

Disobeying these rules may lead to:

• the withdrawal of school travel passes.
• banning students from travelling on public transport.
• police prosecution and court action.

Vandalism is a serious criminal offence and any students caught tagging, etching or vandalising Transport for NSW property will be arrested and may face criminal charges.

Code of conduct for school students on Metro and Trains

Students will:

• Obey all signs,
• Always behave safely, for example:
• avoid running or riding bikes, scooters or skates on any rail service and at stations,
• keep off rail lines,
• keep all body part inside the carriage,
• refrain from touching all doors, safety equipment or any part of a moving metro, train or light rail.
• Use non-offensive language and always behave appropriately on rail property. Students must not swear, spit, fight, throw items or put feet on seats.
• Protect rail property and report graffiti and vandalism.
• Keep yourself and anything you are carrying, such as school bags and musical instruments, clear of aisles, steps, thoroughfares and behind the yellow line on platforms.
• Take your rubbish with you and dispose of it thoughtfully.
• Follow the instructions of station staff, drivers, guards, transport officers and Police officers.
• Spread out along the platform so as not to overcrowd one carriage. Avoid boarding carriages that are already overcrowded.
• Allow other passengers to get off their train before boarding and then board without delay.
• Move along inside the carriage and stand away from the doors during travel.
• Comply with all laws relating to conduct and behaviour while travelling on public transport.

Consequences of inappropriate behaviour

Unacceptable behaviour such as using offensive or racist language, disobeying reasonable directions from the driver, eating on public transport, distracting the operator with persistent noise, and failing to show the travel pass may lead to:

• Formal warning for a first offence, loss of subsidised school travel privileges for up to two school weeks for a second offence, and up to 10 school weeks for subsequent offences.
• Permanent suspension of school travel privileges or banning from travelling on public transport may apply for repeated offences.

Dangerous behaviour such as bullying or harassing other passengers, fighting, putting any part of your body outside the train, throwing objects inside or outside the train, damaging property, and group misbehaviour may lead to:

• Loss of subsidised school travel privileges for up to four school weeks for a first offence and up to 10 school weeks for subsequent offences - or if group misbehaviour is involved, permanent loss of school travel privileges.
• Permanent suspension of school travel privileges or banning from travelling on public transport may apply for repeated offences.

Highly dangerous behaviour such as interfering with safety equipment, pushing students out of the doors or windows, fighting, damage of public transport property may lead to:

• Permanent loss of subsidised school travel privileges, and possible court action or police prosecution
• Being banned from travelling on public transport.

If a student misbehaves on NSW Transport Trains, the operator concerned will contact the parents and the school.

• Depending on the offence, students may be required to give up their school travel pass or may be refused travel on public transport for a period determined by the operator.
• Heavier penalties may apply to students involved in group misbehaviour.
• School principals have the right to take additional disciplinary action against a student under the school's discipline code or student welfare policy for any breach of the code of conduct.

We would greatly appreciate it if parents of students who travel on trains to and from school could discuss the necessity of appropriate and safe behaviour with their child. We need to work together to keep Artarmon Public School students and the general public safe and happy on public transport.