Train Etiquette

[chuckles1066]

They are not all "brats", but you certainly seem to be.

I don't have kids so I haven't inflicted that suffering on others.

Accordingly, I don't expect to have to put up with the same suffering.

Like the young mum who didn't seem to be any older than maybe 22/23 but who had an ill behaved brat of at least 8 or 9 who insisted upon shouting and screaming the entire journey from Bath to Bristol.

I think she admonished him once - she spent the entire journey on her mobile, almost oblivious to her offspring's behaviour and the one admonishment was to the effect that his noise was stopping her hearing what the person on the other end of the phone was saying to her.

I kid ye not.

British education system strikes again methinks.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

British education system strikes again methinks.

Couldn't be the parenting could it? Nope, must be the British Education system again :roll:

 

[ukrob]

Couldn't be the parenting could it? Nope, must be the British Education system again :roll:

To be fair the parent in this case had her child when she was still in school, so if she had been taught about using protection first...

 

[TGV]

I don't have kids so I haven't inflicted that suffering on others.

Accordingly, I don't expect to have to put up with the same suffering.

Like the young mum who didn't seem to be any older than maybe 22/23 but who had an ill behaved brat of at least 8 or 9 who insisted upon shouting and screaming the entire journey from Bath to Bristol.

I think she admonished him once - she spent the entire journey on her mobile, almost oblivious to her offspring's behaviour and the one admonishment was to the effect that his noise was stopping her hearing what the person on the other end of the phone was saying to her.

I kid ye not.

British education system strikes again methinks.

I'm not talking about bad parenting - that's a WHOLE other subject and separate. I'm talking about the vast majority of parents that try and control their kids in public situations on trains. But sometimes you can't - toddlers tantrum - babies cry even to the best parents in the world. And snooty trainspotters giving dirty looks like they own the train or have some extra right to be there is what annoys me.

What on earth has it to do with the British education system? Are you saying those who do not get the most from school make bad parents? Honestly... what's your point?

Again - if you have no kids, I can't see how you'd understand. And coming up with comments that make kids out to be inflicting suffering on others just confirms to me how selfish and immature you are too.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

To be fair the parent in this case had her child when she was still in school, so if she had been taught about using protection first...

Allegedly. All we have is the "facts" from a biased poster.

 

[TGV]

Allegedly. All we have is the "facts" from a biased poster.

Good point - and also, what if the child in question was autistic or had ADHD? Or are they not allowed in the earlier poster's carriage either?

 

[T163R]

Does it really have to take some people on a London bound Virgin Pendolino the time it takes to travel from Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International stations to actually sit down, put their luggage away and just get out of the way? Why did one senior gentleman have to take the entire journey to Coventry folding coats, unzipping bags and basically being henpecked by his wife before he eventually sat down?

Is it me, or is this just a West Coast Main Line long haul situation? Have any of you noticed any other annoying things that people using trains tend to do? I can think of a few others.

• 
  People all pushing to get in one carriage when most of the train further down the platform is empty.

• 
  The older generation panicking and blocking automatic ticket barriers.

• 
  People getting off a train and just stopping in front of everyone else.

• 
  Luggage with long handles and a user with bad spatial awareness.

• 
  People riding the lifts at New Street station all day trying to find the way out while always coming out at platform level.

I'm sure you can think of many others. Is it just region specific, or is it like this all over the United Kingdom?

Oh you're lucky, you don't live in France, especially in Paris

 

[aspierail]

What really annoys me is whenever i get off the train people always stand in the middle blocking my way and this means its make it difficult for me to get off and when i say excuse me please i get dirty looks from other people overall its bad manners. Another thing is younger people don't give up their seat for an elderly person who is struggling to stand up, secondly people sitting on a priority seat when there is plenty of empty seats.

 

[jon0844]

Babies cry - do you have any kids? If so, please enlighten the rest of parents of the world how you managed to stop an ill/distressed/confused or tired baby from crying..

Calpol and lots of it.

(Warning; Don't try this at home, or if on holiday in Portugal...)

 

[Class20]

People getting on the train before you've got off, that's bad. As mentioned its worse on buses as many operators say that people should remain seated till the bus comes to a complete stop. That's fine but when the bus does stop and you go to get off there's already two or three people getting on, and on a bus there isn't much room to pass.

Loud people/noise in the quiet coach. For many people they don't know its the quiet coach, they just get on and sit down. Train managers announcing that there's quiet coaches on the train isn't that helpful as many people don't look a the coach letters unless they have a seat reservation. Also goes for having stickers on doors and coach interiors, people never look at them.

David.c

 

[jon0844]

In London, many people (and I don't mean the bendy buses, although they might be partly why it's worse on normal buses now) get on buses through the middle doors. Not only does this mean they can't scan their Oyster, or pay for a ticket, it also means it's hard to get off even when the doors are only for exiting!

 

[EM2]

Just a quick thought on the headphones issue. I'll admit that I turn my music up quite loud but I have a good pair of snug-fitting headphones. However, I have no idea it's too loud unless someone says so!
If you think it's too loud, then just say, politely, 'Excuse me, your music is a little loud. Would you mind turning it down slightly?'

 

[jon0844]

If you have snug-fitting in-ear type headphones, I doubt anyone will hear anything - and you won't have them too loud as the blocking out of surrounding noise means you get loud, quality sound at a lower volume.

The downside is missing important announcements and wondering why everyone got off the train at the same time and you're still there!

 

[sprite]

Just a quick thought on the headphones issue. I'll admit that I turn my music up quite loud but I have a good pair of snug-fitting headphones. However, I have no idea it's too loud unless someone says so!
If you think it's too loud, then just say, politely, 'Excuse me, your music is a little loud. Would you mind turning it down slightly?'

The last time I did this, the person had no earphones. Swore at me. Then as I was getting of the train assaulted me which including a swift kick to my "man berries" that caused me to stumble out the MK3 door onto York station.

 

[bnm]

One thing that really annoys me is people who use ticket machines and don't know what they're buying - if you're that confused, speak to a member of staff at the ticket window! It always seems to happen at Cambridge, and many a time I have almost missed my train because the foreign student/tourist/whatever in front of me is clueless!

One thing that annoys me is people assuming that because their local station has TVMs and ticket windows, then this must be the case everywhere. Another thing that annoys me is someone complaining that they almost missed their train. One final thing that annoys me is folks in the queue for the TVM grumbling to themselves because someone in front is taking a little bit longer to sort their purchase. Why not offer to help those that you think are clueless? :-x:-x:-x

 

[The Decapod]

Worse than that are the people who are so paranoid that they might miss the train that they think they have a god-given right to board before the people getting off have allighted.

And their opposite - Dawdling people who are still on the train who try to stop you boarding before they get off, even though the doorway is wide enough for the two of you.

Not on trains, but an annoying supermarket one I've seen was a customer in front of me in the checkout queue who deliberately spread about 6 items along the full length of the conveyor so as to stop me from unloading my trolley.

 

[12CSVT]

Another thing is younger people don't give up their seat for an elderly person who is struggling to stand up,

I've seen this before - a couple of years ago there had been a rememberance service in central London. Got on a busy Undergound train about 4pm, most seats in that coach were taken up by business types, shoppers, and school kids etc.
There were also about 20 - 30 elderly war veterans most of them standing up.
Disgraceful.

 

[Mojo]

If you have snug-fitting in-ear type headphones, I doubt anyone will hear anything - and you won't have them too loud as the blocking out of surrounding noise means you get loud, quality sound at a lower volume.

Also, surely if you take off your headphones and can hear the music, then it's probably too loud and most others can?

 

[HSTfan!!!]

People who stand on the edge of the platform reading their paper with their ipod earphones in when there train isn't even the next one get my back up.
I've seen people go up in the lift and then walk down the stairs in front of them when they get to the top and appear confused as to why they then ended up where they started. P
People who insist on opening another HST door when the one right next to it is wide open and no one is using it is irritating.
People who sit listening to their music, wait for their train to depart before asking "was that the train to xxxx?" "yes" "f**k"

 

[90019]

Another thing is younger people don't give up their seat for an elderly person who is struggling to stand up.

Something that particularly annoys me is people who assume that because you're young you must be perfectly fit, and should stand for everyone else.

I have problems with my lower back, knees and ankles, sometimes bordering on almost crippling pain (it's thankfully rare that it gets that bad), as such I try and avoid standing for long periods of time, as it gets very uncomfortable and sore.
It really irritates me when I get accusing stares, tutting and things like that from older people because they automatically assume that it's just laziness.

 

[red circle]

People who stand in the middle of escalators (or beside their suitcase) and pretend not to notice the increasing number of people trying to get past them.

People who stop at the bottom of the escalator and try to work out how to get their pram/buggy onto it without folding, when there are lifts available.

People who step off the bottom of an escalator and just stop,leaving everyone else to pile into them.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

People who step off the bottom of an escalator and just stop,leaving everyone else to pile into them.

Just as bad - people who don't start walking forwards when the escalator levels out...

 

[jon0844]

It really irritates me when I get accusing stares, tutting and things like that from older people because they automatically assume that it's just laziness.

I've seen some people become offended when offered a seat, which doesn't help either. If you've had an older person say 'Actually, I'm quite able to stand thank you' then you may just sit there and wait until you're asked next time.

People DO ask if they can sit down and I'm yet to see anyone refused, so maybe those who need to sit should simply ask? Not everyone is so frail it's visibly obvious, while you can't go assuming that a lady with a big bump is pregnant (and, boy, do you not want to make that mistake!).

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

My pet hates vary greatly, some are just so annoying i seem to get an itch when i see it happening.

- When asked to move in to the centre of the carriage, people just stare at you and move a maximum of 2 centimetres away from the door.

- People who, after listening to the tannoy twice, still ask if this train is stopping at a certain station.

- On Hartlepool Station, we have only 1 platform, and it is obvious as the other one has stones and plants on - people still ask how to get over there, and if they see another train come in before theirs they will run backwards and forwards working out how to get across, after being told.

- People who sit and smoke on the platform, despite the hefty amounts of signs stating no smoking.

 

[jon0844]

They can at least walk to the end of the platform and smoke standing up around here!

 

[Dolive22]

158>185, I can vouch for the Germans not speaking German over here. It drives my mum crazy as she only ever gets to speak German to her German friends.

jonmorris, in theory tht's a byelaw violation. Failing to comply with a notice.

Oswyntail, after learning an extreme sport without pads I can sympathise.

People getting on while you are getting off. Byelaw violation. Simple solution, Criminal Law Act 1967, Section 3, reasonable force in the prevention of crime. Palm, Sternum, Push. Or if you aren't prepared to get physical just explain that it is an offence to board before others have got off and the maximum fine is £1,000.

I'm more sympathetic to quiet coach violators, simply because I have found out many times that my reserved seat is in the quiet coach once I had boarded. I don't think it's reasonable to tell me that once you've had my money. But if they obviously knew, then feel free to tell them. If it is really ****ing you off tell them and point out that it is a byelaw violation. If they don't shut up, get a member of staff. Or Criminal Law Act it, if you're brave.

I did have a very interesting journey out of Paddington next to two counter fraud experts. I got off the train knowing far too much about their business and their clients.

island, it's not your fault. You asked for a ticket. Not a child, a normal ticket. He gave you the wrong ticket. You were travelling with the consent of an authorised person. The employees negligence is a matter between their employer and them.

kwvr45, with you on music. If I can hear your music, your music is too loud and will damage your hearing.

I don't see anything wrong with putting your bag on the seat as long as it isn't reserved and there are other seats. Is it possible to buy a ticket for your bag? I know some judges used to book the entire compartment so they could work in peace.

chuckles1066, you inflicted that on people when you were a baby.

sprite, not much you can do other than:
1. Note clothes, hair colour, glasses, whether he is still on train, carriage, height against an object on the train, skin colour, accent, where they got on. Then 999 or the BTP direct line.
2. Martial arts training. X fist pressing block then non-lethal technigue of your choice. My preference is jab, reverse punch, upper cut, round house.

90019, I agree. I have bad knees. If I'm not offering you my seat it is because they are acting up. I'll happily show you my orthopedic strapping.

 

[chuckles1066]

Allegedly. All we have is the "facts" from a biased poster.

Biased?

Not me, call it as it is. Truth always hurts but sorry, facts are facts.

I accept she may have been older than she looked but I doubt it, as someone else has mentioned I'd wager she had her offspring whilst at school.

I mean, at what point does it not occur to you that your screaming child isn't disturbing the entire carriage?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

And their opposite - Dawdling people who are still on the train who try to stop you boarding before they get off, even though the doorway is wide enough for the two of you.

Ha ha, the 18.21 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff rolled in a few weeks ago.

It stopped, the doors opened and those who needed to disembarked.

Once (apparently) finished, I got on only to encounter a middle aged bloke faffing about with his muddy, oily-chained pushbike, clearly he considered himself so important that he didn't need to get off with the ordinaries.......he took one look at me and said "hey, wait for everyone to get off first".

I replied "well you wanna stop dawdling around grand-dad, there's people stood out there in sub-zero temperatures".

He threw back some feeble response at which point I invited him out onto the platform to teach him some manners......the 18.21 gets in about seven minutes early so there was plenty of time for me to improve his education.

For some reason he suddenly got out very quickly and I haven't seen him on that train since :-?

But if I do........

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Biased?

Not me, call it as it is. Truth always hurts but sorry, facts are facts.

Yes, facts are facts.

But yours isn't fact. It's opinion. For all we know, you could have made the whole thing up.

Once (apparently) finished, I got on only to encounter a middle aged bloke faffing about with his muddy, oily-chained pushbike, clearly he considered himself so important that he didn't need to get off with the ordinaries.......he took one look at me and said "hey, wait for everyone to get off first".

Rather like you who thought they were so important they shouldn't have to wait on the platform like everyone else?

He threw back some feeble response at which point I invited him out onto the platform to teach him some manners.

So because he made a request of you that you didn't like, you threatened him?
Is this what your perfect education system teaches you? To act like a thug?

.....the 18.21 gets in about seven minutes early so there was plenty of time for me to improve his education.

Plenty of time for you to wait on the platform then?

For some reason he suddenly got out very quickly and I haven't seen him on that train since :-?

But if I do........

So you are still prepared to 'teach him some manners' (in a very hypocritical way!) purely because he asked you to wait on the platform?! :roll::roll::roll:

 

[Greenback]

I'm more sympathetic to quiet coach violators, simply because I have found out many times that my reserved seat is in the quiet coach once I had boarded. I don't think it's reasonable to tell me that once you've had my money. But if they obviously knew, then feel free to tell them. If it is really ****ing you off tell them and point out that it is a byelaw violation. If they don't shut up, get a member of staff. Or Criminal Law Act it, if you're brave.

I'm less sympathetic to quiet coach violators. In most cases they know very weell they are in the quiet coach and just don't care about the toher people who have chosen to sit in there to sleep, read or work.

Incidentally, if you only find out when you get to the train, do you think it's fair to make a noise and disturb othe rpeople when your dipsute is really with not being told during the boioking process by the TOC's representative or website?

i

The difficulty is in convincing soemone of this!

100% right!

There used to be a facility to book an entire compartment for privacy, but this hasn't existed since BR days and probably long before compartments were compeltely abolsihed.

The point is, what reason can there be to put coats or luggage on to an adjacent seat? The only ones I can comprehend are when the bag won;t fit into an overhead rack because it's too big or the rack is full, or the person wants to discourage anyone else from sitting next to them.

The first reason stems from people taking far more luggage with them than used to be the case, and that luggage is also often bigger than it needs to be. It seems to be more of a fashion and status statement these days, in that so many people have large and oddly shaped bags that they drag around with them. They are then surprised when these bags won;t go into the racks or on the floor. Of course, some of the racks themselves are hopelessly small too, which adds to the problem!

The second reason is simply selfishness One bloke appeared to be asleep the other day, and every spare outside seat in the carriage had a bag on it, so I simply picked it up to move it to the rack, which was empty. He soon 'woke up', at whcih point I smiled sweetly and informed him that Iw as sorry to disturb him and I had tried not to.What a lark this bag on the seat game is!

Ha ha, the 18.21 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff rolled in a few weeks ago.

It stopped, the doors opened and those who needed to disembarked.

Once (apparently) finished, I got on only to encounter a middle aged bloke faffing about with his muddy, oily-chained pushbike, clearly he considered himself so important that he didn't need to get off with the ordinaries.......he took one look at me and said "hey, wait for everyone to get off first".

I replied "well you wanna stop dawdling around grand-dad, there's people stood out there in sub-zero temperatures".

He threw back some feeble response at which point I invited him out onto the platform to teach him some manners......the 18.21 gets in about seven minutes early so there was plenty of time for me to improve his education.

For some reason he suddenly got out very quickly and I haven't seen him on that train since :-?

But if I do........

Surely a better response would be to simply say that you thought everyone had got off, rather than initiating a verbal exchange? Or was it our intention to teah hima lesson from the word go? Did you in fact know he was still on the train and got on anyway hoping to provoke a confrontation just because you decided he was too slow and had a bike?

 

[chuckles1066]

Yes, facts are facts.

But yours isn't fact. It's opinion. For all we know, you could have made the whole thing up.

In fairness you could ascribe that view to every single post here, where's the mileage?

Rather like you who thought they were so important they shouldn't have to wait on the platform like everyone else?

No, you stand and wait for everyone to get off. When the trickle of passengers stops you assume that everyone has indeed alighted.

So because he made a request of you that you didn't like, you threatened him?
Is this what your perfect education system teaches you? To act like a thug?

No threat, I invited him out onto the platform because I believed his manners needed some improvement.

Plenty of time for you to wait on the platform then?

Yes, let's just stand around in -4C temperatures whilst the train stands there with the doors open......that makes sense.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Surely a better response would be to simply say that you thought everyone had got off, rather than initiating a verbal exchange? Or was it our intention to teah hima lesson from the word go? Did you in fact know he was still on the train and got on anyway hoping to provoke a confrontation just because you decided he was too slow and had a bike?

No, see my other posts on here, I'm a big believer in everyone standing well clear of the doors, let everyone off. In fact, I'd have a one door in-only, one door out-only policy as you know

I really didn't know he was still onboard but he initiated the confrontation........he was slack and should have kept his peace because he was in the wrong.

Given that there is a seven minute stop between arriving and departing maybe he should have been allowed to stay onboard for six and a half minutes before deigning to alight?

Sometimes you have to stand up for what's right.