From 1 September next month, Deutsche Bahn (DB) will become completely smoke-free, while Germany”s railway stations are also to ban the weed.
During 2007, smoking sections have been removed from DB regional trains and are now entirely smoke-free, while all InterCity, EuroCity and InterCity Express (ICE) trains will ban smoking from September.
In a sign of the times, around 8%-27% of DB seating is currently allocated for smokers ” during the 1970s it was half of available space.
DB started to ban smoking at 54 larger German stations in 2002, with some 2,500 out of 5,370 now smoke-free. Stations will have designated smoking corners in public areas, but interestingly, DB says it will be unable to ensure no-one lights up in areas rented by shops and restaurants.
One other feature of the smoking ban will also be cost. DB maintains it will be cheaper to ensure trains and stations remain clean.
The German train operator will also help those who initially find the ban stressful; on InterCity and ICE services, DB will hand out free nicotine chewing gum on request.