Smokers face train station ban under new State Government health rules Smokers are set to face bans at Victorian train stations. SMOKERS will be forced to butt out at railway stations from early next year with the State Government set to ban smoking on train platforms. Under new rules to be unveiled today by Health Minister David Davis and Transport Minister Terry Mulder, cigarettes will also be banished from tram super stops. The public transport smoking crackdown could later be widened to include a ban on smoking at all tram and bus stops. Smoking is currently only banned under covered areas of train platforms and inside tram and bus shelters. Mr Davis said banning smoking on train platforms and raised platforms at tram stops would improve the health and wellbeing public transport users and was intended to extend the no-go zones for smokers. "Around 4000 lives are lost each year in Victoria as a result of smoking and it costs $2.4 billion in direct health costs and lost productivity every year," Mr Davis said. Mr Mulder said the Government wider bans on smoking in public transport areas were under consideration. "Our initiatives will help eliminate what for many people is an unpleasant experience in being exposed to second-hand smoke while they are waiting for or alighting from trams and trains," he said. The changes to regulations would remove potential health impacts to commuters, Mr Mulder. The number of people being fined for illegally smoking on public transport has jumped sharply in recent years. . Last financial year there were 2002 infringement notices issued by Authorised Officers, Protective Services Officers and police, a 72 per cent increase from the 1161 issued in 2010-11. The fine for smoking under covered areas of train platforms, tram stops and bus shelters is $212 for adults and $72 for children. This fine will now apply to smoking anywhere on train platforms and raised platforms at tram stops. The latest anti-smoking changes by the Napthine Government follows the introduction last month of legislation to ban smoking at children's playgrounds, public swimming pools, children's sporting grounds and skate parks as well as an earlier ban on smoking at patrolled beaches . "Victoria will be the first jurisdiction to introduce a smoking ban specifically for underage sporting events and skate parks," Mr Davis said. This Government is leading the way to create smoke-free environments where children and teens can enjoy healthy recreational activities.