by Non-smokers will soon be able to breathe easily while waiting for Swiss trains, according to the newspaper Le Matin. © Gordon Bell _ Dreamstime.com In 2005, it was still possible to smoke on Swiss trains in special smoking carriages. From 1 June 2019, it won’t even be possible to smoke on train platforms. Smokers will soon have to take their last quick puffs before they enter train stations. E-cigarettes are included in the new ban that follows smoke free platform tests at a number of Swiss train stations around the country. Switzerland’s public transport union, who ran the tests, revealed that three quarters of those surveyed were in favour of the ban. Clean air for all appears to have trumped nicotine fixes for a few. A few designated areas will be set aside for smokers, according to
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Non-smokers will soon be able to breathe easily while waiting for Swiss trains, according to the newspaper Le Matin.
© Gordon Bell _ Dreamstime.com
In 2005, it was still possible to smoke on Swiss trains in special smoking carriages. From 1 June 2019, it won’t even be possible to smoke on train platforms. Smokers will soon have to take their last quick puffs before they enter train stations.
E-cigarettes are included in the new ban that follows smoke free platform tests at a number of Swiss train stations around the country. Switzerland’s public transport union, who ran the tests, revealed that three quarters of those surveyed were in favour of the ban. Clean air for all appears to have trumped nicotine fixes for a few.
A few designated areas will be set aside for smokers, according to Swiss Rail spokesperson Frédéric Revaz. More details on these zones will be revealed soon by the company.
More good news for non-smokers is the CHF 4 million that will be saved on cleaning, a cost generated by a minority and covered indirectly to some extent by everyone via some mix of higher fares and taxation – Swiss Rail gets around a third of its revenue from the government. This cross subsidy is similar to the one non-smokers in Switzerland make when they pay the same standardized health insurance premiums as smokers, who, on average, cost the health care system more.
More on this:
Le Matin article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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