Up to Dhs10,000 fine for Etihad Rail rule violations

Etihad Rail revealed 27 types of violations for passengers, whether on board the trains or inside stations, or in any of the facilities under the management of the trains, with fines ranging from Dhs100 to Dhs10,000, explaining that Etihad Rail employees are entitled to issue a fine against the violating person, whether he is a traveller or a visitor.

The fine must be paid by the violator or whoever represents him, and paying the fine does not prevent the violation from being referred to the competent authorities, including the Public Prosecution, or taking any other legal measures under the applicable laws, which may include imposing additional penalties or imprisonment.

Etihad Rail stated that a fine of Dhs200 is imposed in cases such as littering and disposing of waste improperly on board trains or inside stations or related facilities; placing feet on train seats; refusing to leave the platform at the destination station and not leaving the platform when requested to do so by Etihad Rail staff or any person.

Inside a bogey of the Etihad Rail train.

The fine also covers travelling without a valid ticket and failing to produce a valid ticket upon request, evading payment of the ticket price and intentionally not paying the correct value, and using a discounted ticket without entitlement, misuse of tickets and using a ticket designated for a specific category without meeting the eligibility requirements; occupying reserved seats without authorisation; carrying prohibited items in violation of the passenger charter; travelling in a class which does not match the ticket and occupying a seat or space in a higher travel class; failure to comply with the instructions of Etihad Rail staff or authorised persons, including during emergencies or routine inspections.

Violations also include being intoxicated or unfit to travel and entering trains or stations and possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages on board trains and forging or altering tickets with the intent of fraud.

A fine of Dhs500 is also imposed in the case of smoking in prohibited places or inhaling smoking products or using electronic smoking devices; disruptive, offensive, threatening, or intimidating behaviour and performing any behaviour that affects the comfort or safety of passengers or Etihad Rail staff or harassment or verbal abuse or threats; polluting trains or stations or spitting; obstructing or tampering with doors and preventing them from closing before departure or opening them or attempting to open them while the train is in motion, causing delay to services.

Etihad Rail stated that a fine of Dhs200 is imposed in cases such as littering and disposing of waste improperly on board trains or inside stations or related facilities

Fines also include possession or dealing in controlled substances, commercial photography or recording without a permit and conducting photography for commercial purposes without prior written approval, boarding or disembarking from the train while it is in motion and attempting to board or disembark while the train is between stations.

A fine of Dhs5,000 will also be imposed in cases of tampering with, activating, or damaging safety equipment, including emergency alarms, emergency brakes, or fire extinguishers; throwing any object inside or towards or outside the train or from station platforms; unauthorised entry into railway tracks or prohibited areas or facilities; damaging passenger train vehicles or station property, including writing or drawing on property or vandalism.

Fines also include for unjustified activation of emergency equipment and systems or communication without reasonable justification, and misuse of emergency exits in non-emergency cases and without authorisation.