On 12/10, a female passenger made a speakerphone call for over an hour on high-speed train G735, traveling from Beijing to Shanghai. When other passengers reminded her about the loud and disrespectful behavior, an argument ensued. The woman asserted that her phone call did not concern anyone else.

High-speed train G735, traveling from Beijing to Shanghai. Photo: Huacheng

Train staff intervened, asking the woman to end her call and arranging new seats for affected passengers. Nanjing passenger transport confirmed the incident, urging passengers to maintain order and civil conduct while traveling.

By the morning of 14/10, the incident became the most discussed news on Weibo and Sina, two leading social media platforms in China. Many users criticized the female passenger's conduct on public transport.

Some accounts noted that listening to unwanted sounds for extended periods is annoying, especially on crowded trains. One user commented, "Using speakerphone for calls, watching videos at high volume, or talking loudly is disrespectful to those around you."

According to China Railway customer service 12306, there is currently no specific regulation prohibiting passengers from making phone calls on trains. Staff can remind those causing noise to lower the volume but cannot force them to end a call.

Passengers can choose quiet carriages when purchasing tickets. In regular carriages, handling noise situations primarily relies on staff reminders and guidance, depending on the specific circumstances.