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14
Apr 2023
Don't watch explicit videos on commute home from work, says Northern Rail
A Northern service leaving Harrogate station.
Northern Trains which operates the Harrogate line has appealed to customers to stop watching explicit videos and making inappropriate jokes whilst travelling.
It has extended the strict 'not suitable for work’ rule regarding the viewing of content to its trains and stations, after facing a problem with "a minority" of commuters.
This can range in scale from inappropriate jokes and bad language to offensive topics and explicit material.
The operator said:
"Whilst people are more likely to err on the side of caution at work, the rush to view content once they’ve left the workplace can mean the train journey home is often the first opportunity to take a look."
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Northern said the internet in its stations and on-board the trains is delivered in partnership with ‘Friendly WiFi’ - a government-initiated safe certification standard for public WiFi.
Friendly WiFi aims to reassure users that the service meets minimum filtering standards – particularly in areas where children are present, such as on station platforms and on trains.
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:
“We welcome millions of people into our stations and on board our trains every year – and access to safe and reliable internet is part and parcel of our customers’ expectations.
“It is important, however, that people remember that some content is not suitable for everyone to see or hear – particularly children.
“As such, if something is ‘not suitable for work’ it’s more than likely not suitable in our stations or on board our trains either – so please wait until you get home.”
Bev Smith, director of Friendly WiFi, said:
“We are excited to be working with Northern as a ‘Friendly WiFi’ certified train operator.
“They were passionate throughout the process to achieve the standard to ensure a great experience online for all their customers whilst travelling with them.”
In 2010 Harrogate was dubbed Britain's "porn capital" by the tabloid press after an analysis of residents' internet use for the BBC2 show The Virtual Revolution.
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