A London commuter has found herself in court facing a potential £1,000 penalty for an alleged breach of obscure railway rules – walking the wrong way on a station escalator.
The Unusual Charge
Michaela Copeland, a 32-year-old from Bermondsey in southeast London, appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on November 28. She pleaded not guilty to a charge of ‘using or attempting to use an escalator other than by standing or walking on it in the direction intended for travel’.
The incident is said to have occurred on the Transport for London (TfL) regional railway network in Greenwich on November 27. It remains unclear whether she is accused of going up a ‘down’ escalator or down an ‘up’ escalator.
The Obscure Byelaw Behind the Fine
The charge stems from little-known railway byelaws, which explicitly make it an offence to walk on an escalator in the wrong direction. The maximum fine for breaking this law is £1,000.
This case highlights one of the many peculiar regulations still active across the UK. Other examples include:
- Carrying a plank of wood on a pavement in London if it obstructs pedestrians, which carries a £500 fine.
- Handling salmon in ‘suspicious circumstances’ under the Salmon Act 1986.
- Firing a cannon within 300 yards of a residential property.
Court Proceedings and What Comes Next
Ms Copeland, who was pictured outside court using crutches, has formally denied the allegation. A trial has been scheduled for April and is expected to last around three hours.
The case serves as a stark reminder to the millions who use London’s transport network daily that a host of specific byelaws govern behaviour on the system, with breaches carrying significant financial penalties.
