What drives you round the bend when using the train?

[CaptainHaddock]

The OP missed out the number one annoyance - the constant needless and patronising "elf'n'safety" onboard announcements!

I don't need to know all that crap about safety information, unattended luggage, suspicious items, quiet zones, refreshments and not being allowed to smoke - just tell us where the train's going, what stations it's calling at and then shut the **** up!

 

[TC60054]

People who can't work out how to open doors! Plus those who have to repetitively spam the door open button before the doors have been unlocked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HowardGWR]

Gosh that was difficult. I only did not vote for dirty smelly toilets because it might not be on every rail journey that one might need them, whereas noisy people are a pain at any time. You also did not mention smelly food (see other thread) which is similarly nauseous.

Whoops , just noticed it was multiple choice so I would have voted for those two and overcrowding or people sat next to me. Anything involving other people as I don't really like them.

 

[sor]

Everything to do with doors.

On trains like HSTs with slam doors, it's people who don't know how to use them, and won't learn how, but don't get out of the way to let someone else open it. Or then they don't close it even though there's no one else behind you

On all trains, it's people who don't understand the concept of "allow people to get off before you get on".

Last time I got the sleeper I wasn't very impressed with the woman in the adjacent berth who insisted on watching David Attenborough documentaries all night, without headphones

I don't need to know all that crap about safety information, unattended luggage, suspicious items, quiet zones, refreshments and not being allowed to smoke - just tell us where the train's going, what stations it's calling at and then shut the **** up!

Given that people still try it on with shouting on their phone in the quiet carriage, or smoking on trains (especially HSTs with the drop windows) it may well be necessary

 

[47271]

I spend so much time on trains I've learned to tune out of other passengers' behaviour unless it's very extreme, so it's rare for me to be upset by that.

It's just not having enough space to function, whether through overcrowding or simply the design of the seat, that wears me down sometimes. Trying to get on with your work at a table in a full up Scotrail 158, whilst still maintaining circulation in your legs, is quite a challenge for example.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Corporate branding.

None of the little irritations in the poll "drive me round the bend" - if any of them do affect me, they are short lived.

But I do get a lasting bad taste when I see so much time and money being frittered on branding when I'd rather it was spent on dealing with some of the real needs of passengers. e.g. Virgin Trains East Coast response to the poor state of the toilets on some sets is to stick huge images of a red baloon in them. I'd rather have a working toilet (or towel dispenser, or waste bin, or door lock, or . . . . ).

 

[NSEFAN]

If I had to complain about anything, it'd be "Sunday passengers". You know the sort: those whole fumble around, not sure where they're going, blocking aisles as they look for seat reservations, only going to collect luggage once to alight the train has stopped and the doors have opened.

But I cannot judge, I am just as bad when flying.

 

[Mordac]

People with no indoor voice is number one.

EDIT: Also, conductors repeating verbatim what the PIS annoucements have just said, or vice versa.

 

[Lockwood]

I'll also say "The driver" but also add "the curvature of the track" as something that drives me round the bend.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Screaming/noisy children and babies, especially in first class/the quiet coach.

 

[najaB]

I'll also say "The driver" but also add "the curvature of the track" as something that drives me round the bend.

If you want to get really picky then it would have to be friction between bum/seat or feet/floor. Newton's first law of motion and all that.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Bench seats on the North/East/South London Lines. Traversing some of the more interesting parts of London, but all one can really see are the passengers opposite. A minor gripe, but a gripe all the same.

 

[Statto]

Overcrowding, which can easily be sorted if the DFT allowed the TOCs buy more trains, like CrossCountry 4/5 carriage sets, which really need doubling up at all times.

 

[Master29]

Drunks on trains, People who bring too much luggage, bunching up at one end of the platform, people who can never be bothered to reserve seats but expect to sit down on busy trains.

 

[les.]

As I very rarely suffer overcrowded trains due to where I live the thing that really annoys me are the people listening to ther Iphones etc, through headphones, but have the volume on so loud everyone within a few seats range can hear a tinny drone.

Also people who play games on their phones but don't have them on silent.

A couple of times the music I could hear was that loud I actually asked them to turn it down. Thankfully on both occasions the culprits did apologise.

Also people who have a phone conversation but do so at a volume that the whole carriage can hear. I was sat behind a young girl a few months back and by the time she's finished her near hour conversation to, what I assume was her best friend I, and everyone in the carriage, knew her whole life story.

 

[Robertj21a]

Price is my big concern.
I'd be happy to stand on an over crowded 153 to Newark with out of order toilet, annoying drunks, rubbish everywhere, and late running and rare frequencies etc... if it was as cheap as a bus like it should be.

Why should it be ?

 

[Tracked]

Loud People


I go to work on a Voyager, I don't mind them now, Stockholm Syndrome has set in ... (in fairness, it's on time, not too busy at the time I go, and doesn't smell of toilet at the point I get it. Sometimes have got it in the late afternoon and it's been ok too)

 

[156443]

I think you're getting confused, either that or you've been misinformed. It's been several years since Middlesbrough last played Newcastle United.

As I said, it was a few years ago when both teams were playing in the premier league at the same time.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Tooktook]

People who take business calls and speak in a needlessly loud tone in a busy coach. And then you have no choice but to listen. Hoping the train will go through an area without service or that their phone spontaneously combusts.

Don't get me wrong I understand people have important and busy jobs. But sometimes voices seemed to be raised to an annoying level.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

.
. Babies crying.

Vote for Trump !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Football fans in large numbers are quite an annoyance.

At one time the bulk of train travelling fans were conveyed by Soccer Specials keeping them out of the way of the general public and depositing at stations close to grounds in an effort to keep them out of town/city centres. The attraction of travelling on such trains was a cheap fare. Always seemed a sensible solution alas it is another of those things which have passed with BR.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Nothing. Seriously, nothing.

Having recently commuted by road for a short period (before hastily switching to rail), it really does give one a sense of perspective.

The minor irritations of rail travel (loud noises that can be easily blocked out, people standing on the left of the escalator...) are of no consequence compared to the mental demand and physical danger of rush hour road travel.

There are also regular delays far in excess of anything seen on the railway!

You obviously don't use Thameslink

 

[Harbornite]

Vote for Trump !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


At one time the bulk of train travelling fans were conveyed by Soccer Specials keeping them out of the way of the general public and depositing at stations close to grounds in an effort to keep them out of town/city centres. The attraction of travelling on such trains was a cheap fare. Always seemed a sensible solution alas it is another of those things which have passed with BR.

You still get charter trains run for the benefit of football fans, although these are often for shareholders only.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Newcastle to Chester le Street by bus: £3.30, 35 minutes
Newcastle to Chester le Street by rail: £4.60, 8-10 minutes

Yes, I'd prefer the price to be cheaper but compared to the bus, I'd take the train every time

Don't the buses run every 7 minutes as opposed to a patchy train service ? ...and isn't there a night bus service at the weekends ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You still get charter trains run for the benefit of football fans, although these are often for shareholders only.

They are rare and if not a shareholder you probably need to afford to be one to travel on them.

There probably aren't many Mk II carriages with slashed seats and the heating not working left to recreate the authentic Soccer Special.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Basically, all of the options, but on the journeys I make they generally only or mostly apply to travelling on Voyagers...funnily enough

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Let's see... in addition to the options in the poll, it's people who crowd round the doors to get on, preventing me from getting off. People who let their kids run up and down the carriage making loads of noise. People who stand by the doors on board, even though they're going further than the next stop. Stag and hen parties. People who think that the signs telling them to keep left on the stairs don't apply to them. Pacers. Cyclists and their cycles when not in the cycle area.

 

[J-2739]

I'm confused to why Voyagers made it to the list but not a certain bus variety...:-?

 

[Polarbear]

Centripetal force exerted by the driver is what drives most of us around the bend....

...grabs coat...

For me, most of the irritants are not down to the railway. The usual suspects such as loud people, feet on seats, boozed up footie fans & race-goers.

Yes, they exist everywhere, but you notice them more on board a train as there are fewer options to get away from them.

OK, some fares are way too high, but others are very cheap.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Feet on seats.

Dirty smelly toilets could be expanded to toilets locked out of use.

 

[al78]

Many of these seem to point to the same theme - thoughtless inconsiderate people. The irritations caused by these 'I can't acknowledge anything beyond my one metre of personal space zone' types could apply everywhere in life.

 

[yorksrob]

Many of these seem to point to the same theme - thoughtless inconsiderate people. The irritations caused by these 'I can't acknowledge anything beyond my one metre of personal space zone' types could apply everywhere in life.

Personally I find journeys with strangers much better if people keep themselves to themselves. An mp3 player helps in this.

But for something like overcrowding, which is a surefire way of spoiling a journey, you can't really blame the passengers for turning up !

 

[Phil.]

Screaming out of control parental deaf kids.
Loud stereos.
Shouted conversations with plenty of "fruity" language into a cell 'phone.
Yobbos - male and female - of the football/stag party/shouty type