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No, I'm not a smoker, but some friends coming on a trip with me are, and they want to know what their options are (I suppose some of the 12+ hour journeys we have planned frighten them).

Personally, I hope it's banned everywhere, but you never know.

Let's limit it to the EU and the EEA. We can assume that most places prohibit smoking on the train, so let's hear if there are any exceptions, and which countries forbid smoking in the station (the UK is one, I believe).

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What is the EEA? –  RoflcoptrException Nov 8 '11 at 11:31
the European Economic Area, so basically the EU + Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. –  victoriah Nov 8 '11 at 11:34
Ah I see. Now I can add an answer. –  RoflcoptrException Nov 8 '11 at 11:37
In the Czech Republic you can't smoke even in open stations. –  VPeric Nov 8 '11 at 12:08
@victoriah Does Switzerland not come under the EEA ? –  Simon Feb 22 '13 at 18:18
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4 Answers

I can only answer this question for a small part of the countries you're interested in.

Liechtenstein does not have its own rail service, so the Austrian respectively the Swiss rules apply here. Nevertheless there are some railway stations in Liechtenstein that are mainly served by Austrian trains. In all Austrian and Swiss trains it is strictly forbidden to smoke and the fines are quite high (some hundred francs).

Concerning smoking in railway stations there is a similar rule: It is forbidden if the railway station is a closed room. So if for example there are some underground passages you're not allowed to smoke there. But on the platform you're allowed to smoke. In Liechtenstein there are only platforms without roofs or walls, so you can smoke there everywhere.

Concerning buses, the same rule applies. Strictly forbidden in all buses but possible on bus station if they are not covered by a roof and walls.

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I am not a smoker. But I know that I am annoyed by the smell of stinking smokers at Dutch railway stations where designated smoking areas are installed on almost all platforms. They are recognizable as iron totem pals surrounded by smoking worshippers.

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In the few German stations I've been to they also have this. –  VPeric Nov 8 '11 at 12:23
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In Germany some long-distance or express trains have separate smoking compartments inside the train, and sections on the platforms where smoking is allowed - however nobody really cares where you smoke on the platform if there are ashtrays on top of the rubbish bins.

You won't find many overland buses in Germany; there was a law passed in 1931 that would grant the state-owned railroad company a monopoly on long distance transport (see first 2 paragraphs), and this law is still in effect today for the most part.

From my experience Germany is a bit more smoker-friendly than the rest of (West-) Europe, and last time i checked they even still allowed tobacco companies to advertise in public places, bus stops and so on. It was just recently when they passed a law that would forbid smoking in some restaurants because of health concerns for the employees who work there 40h/week or more; but about 10 years ago it was pretty much impossible to go to a pub in Germany and don't smell like an ashtray when you came out later that night.

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Ha! I always wondered this about Germany, why there were no long distance buses. In France it's much worse though so you've prompted me to ask a question about it! –  hippietrail Nov 9 '11 at 7:41
The ruling parties in Germany agreed to lift the bars on long distance buses during the current term (2009-2013), though. The railroad company Deutsche Bahn also is no longer state-owned (since 1994). So the availability of long-distance buses in Germany should improve in the near future. –  al. Nov 9 '11 at 11:26
Actually there are no trains with smoking compartments anymore in Germany, but still there is a smoking spot on nearly every platform. –  neo Nov 9 '11 at 12:24
@al. Deutsche Bahn is a privately organized company but still is owned 100% by the federal state. –  neo Nov 9 '11 at 12:25
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In the UK smoking is forbidden everywhere on the railway network: in trains, on platforms and in stations. It's tolerated outside in the street, but that's all.

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Smoking on platforms away from the buildings is pretty common though and difficult to police. –  e100 Jan 25 '12 at 18:03
Some stations (e.g. Reading in the UK) have smoke detectors on the platforms: a recorded announcement plays if they're triggered. –  Jeremy McGee Jan 25 '12 at 18:57
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