POLICE have not charged a single train passenger in Strathclyde over a late night booze ban introduced three months ago, it was revealed today.

They claim people are obeying the new rules.

ScotRail put an alcohol curfew in place on trains from 9pm to 10am in July in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour – the first of its kind in the UK.

It has hailed new arrest figures, which show that only five people across Scotland have been charged under railway byelaws, as proof that its "softly softly" approach to enforcing the ban had paid off.

Rail watchdog Passenger Focus, which had expressed concern the curfew could prove unenforceable, also welcomed the figures, saying that Scots had been happy to ditch their cans and bottles when asked to by train staff.

Robert Samson, PF's manager for Scotland, said the public had responded in a similar manner to the introduction of a smoking ban in public places five years ago, with police enforcement proving largely unnecessary.

He said: "Most people are just adapting to it.

"There have been one or two instances on late night trains where people have been drunk but these have been few and far between. Most people accept it.

"The softly softly, light touch approach has worked. ScotRail have not been stupid about this, they're not throwing people off trains if they've picked up a bottle of wine on the way home from work."

British Transport Police, which has supported the ban, said four men in their early 20s had been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with an incident on board the 9.07pm Edinburgh to Dundee service on Saturday, July 21 – the day after the ban was introduced.

Another 33-year-old passenger is due to be reported in connection with an incident on board a train travelling between Aberdeen and Inverness on Friday, August 10, BTP said.

A spokeswoman for ScotRail said: "Our efforts to curb anti-social behaviour via a part-time alcohol ban have gone smoothly.

"Three months into the campaign, we are seeing high levels of awareness and support among regular customers, which is encouraging."

damien.henderson@ heraldandtimes.co.uk