Train Etiquette

[trainophile]

I prefer an aisle seat ever since I had to wake someone up to get past him at my stop! It does make me feel a bit antisocial though, as I am quite happy for someone to sit next to me, and will stand up to allow them to do so, but I'm not moving over so that I am trapped.

 

[chuckles1066]

I see, so we embittered singletons are supposed to give up our nice plum window seats just so the lovebirds can hold hands.

Good luck with that

You missed the inverted commas around the word "lovebirds".

Ask one of these so-in-love-beautiful-people to "come off" Facebook and they'll tell you they will if their partner does.

British couples trust each other about as much as a dog trusts it's fleas not to bite it.

 

[Striker]

You missed the inverted commas around the word "lovebirds".

Ask one of these so-in-love-beautiful-people to "come off" Facebook and they'll tell you they will if their partner does.

British couples trust each other about as much as a dog trusts it's fleas not to bite it.

Do go on.

 

[GodAtum]

Do you say hello to people you see often on your commute?

 

[jon0844]

So come on train designers, show us what you can do.

A simple thing would be to have a bit of material that hangs down and can be lifted up to cover the seat, and you put your feet on that (mind you, if they're really wet - the water will go through). Then when someone comes to sit down, they flip the fabric down which then hangs down - and having flipped over isn't in contact on the 'dirty' side with trousers/legs.

Of course, doing that would give the go ahead for people to put feet on seats - but given so many do anyway it might be the best solution.

 

[trainophile]

Depends on the seat arrangement as to what would be practical. My initial suggestion would obviously only work for airline style seating, and this type does not lend itself to putting feet on the facing seat as there isn't one! Although this negates the need to discourage feet on seats, it would still make travel more comfortable if there was a raised bar of some sort underneath the back of the seat in front. If attached to the floor rather than the seat, it would avoid the nuisance problem of foot tappers.

On face-to-face type seating, although the "piece of material" would serve the purpose of protecting subsequent occupiers' clothing, it might send a message that it's okay to put your feet on them, thus depriving other passengers from sitting in that seat. In this case maybe a bar protruding very slightly from the underside of each seat would allow the option of resting the heels on an above-floor level. It would also encourage travellers not to cross their legs, thus hogging the limited space between facing seats.

Full of good ideas, me, but I appreciate that costs have to be kept to a minimum, and that essentially all a train is obliged to do is transport us from A to B in safety, if not in comfort.

 

[Daimler]

Depends on the seat arrangement as to what would be practical. My initial suggestion would obviously only work for airline style seating, and this type does not lend itself to putting feet on the facing seat as there isn't one! Although this negates the need to discourage feet on seats, it would still make travel more comfortable if there was a raised bar of some sort underneath the back of the seat in front. If attached to the floor rather than the seat, it would avoid the nuisance problem of foot tappers.

On face-to-face type seating, although the "piece of material" would serve the purpose of protecting subsequent occupiers' clothing, it might send a message that it's okay to put your feet on them, thus depriving other passengers from sitting in that seat. In this case maybe a bar protruding very slightly from the underside of each seat would allow the option of resting the heels on an above-floor level. It would also encourage travellers not to cross their legs, thus hogging the limited space between facing seats.

Full of good ideas, me, but I appreciate that costs have to be kept to a minimum, and that essentially all a train is obliged to do is transport us from A to B in safety, if not in comfort.

Some trains on the Paris RER/Transilien system have bars fitted below the seat squabs on facing seats which are designed to be used as footrests, as can be seen here.

 

[jon0844]

it might send a message that it's okay to put your feet on them, thus depriving other passengers from sitting in that seat.

Yes, it might.. although I am sure that most people would succeed in getting someone to remove their feet if they wanted to sit!

If people had common sense and actually cared about other people, none of this would be an issue. As Striker says (and it matches my own experience when I went to Japan), there's a huge cultural difference.

Imagine if people had respect for others here.. you could then have a bit of material to put your feet up and not worry about someone refusing to move them. People could put bags on seats when there's room, as they'd move them the second someone came on the train and needed to sit down - no fuss, no cursing..

Only today I was down at the end of platform 1 at Hatfield for an 8-car train.. with about 3 other people there. As the train came in, someone walked down and stood DIRECTLY in front of me. Silly git didn't even realise that I wasn't even in line with where the doors would be, so I went forward and to the left of him - almost touching him. Silly a**e didn't even see me, so when the doors lined up with me, he walked straight into me and I gave him a serious stare as if to say 'what the **** do you think you're doing'. That was it, no words uttered, no sighing.. but, seriously, how can you stand about 6 inches in front of someone else? It was the sort of thing that would make you wonder if he was doing it for a dare and his mates were filming it or something.

 

[trainophile]

Some trains on the Paris RER/Transilien system have bars fitted below the seat squabs on facing seats which are designed to be used as footrests, as can be seen here.

That's exactly the sort of thing I had in mind .

Yes, it might.. although I am sure that most people would succeed in getting someone to remove their feet if they wanted to sit!

If people had common sense and actually cared about other people, none of this would be an issue. As Striker says (and it matches my own experience when I went to Japan), there's a huge cultural difference.

Imagine if people had respect for others here.. you could then have a bit of material to put your feet up and not worry about someone refusing to move them. People could put bags on seats when there's room, as they'd move them the second someone came on the train and needed to sit down - no fuss, no cursing..

Only today I was down at the end of platform 1 at Hatfield for an 8-car train.. with about 3 other people there. As the train came in, someone walked down and stood DIRECTLY in front of me. Silly git didn't even realise that I wasn't even in line with where the doors would be, so I went forward and to the left of him - almost touching him. Silly a**e didn't even see me, so when the doors lined up with me, he walked straight into me and I gave him a serious stare as if to say 'what the **** do you think you're doing'. That was it, no words uttered, no sighing.. but, seriously, how can you stand about 6 inches in front of someone else? It was the sort of thing that would make you wonder if he was doing it for a dare and his mates were filming it or something.

I usually assume people like that are on "substances". :roll:

Going back to the original topic, another pet hate is sniffers. Some enormous bloke sat next to me once from Moorfields to Chester and sniffed noisily every few seconds. I was thinking of offering him a tissue but decided he might take offence - although I was far more offended by his snivelling.

 

[Chapeltom]

Few things I'd like to say on this subject. I don't travel a great deal compared to most, normally just to football games on Saturdays as I'm a 6th form student in the week. This will all change when I start University later this year and it'll be a daily commute

Things that annoy me:
1) People tutting when I crack open a can of beer. I'm sorry but it just irritates me, people's natural perception you can't drink on trains. I'm not anti-social and can control my drinking without having someone point and stare.

2) Morons that surround the door when I'm waiting to alight from a train. I will either stand and wait for a gap to emerge or barge through, sorry but why do people stand round doors like this?

3) People who will push and push and push to get onto a train when there is clearly no room on it. I was pushed up against a bit of partition on a Class 150 stood on my tip toes because some people wouldn't heed advice the train was full. A very uncomfortable 20 minutes

 

[SWT_USER]

Few things I'd like to say on this subject. I don't travel a great deal compared to most, normally just to football games on Saturdays

Things that annoy me:
1) People tutting when I crack open a can of beer. I'm sorry but it just irritates me, people's natural perception you can't drink on trains. I'm not anti-social and can control my drinking without having someone point and stare.

I concur with this statement, a few beers on a Saturday en route to/from football isn't yet illegal and doesn't require disgusted of Tunbridge Wells tutting their disapproval.

 

[jon0844]

Going back to the original topic, another pet hate is sniffers. Some enormous bloke sat next to me once from Moorfields to Chester and sniffed noisily every few seconds.

Glad you said where that was, as I was worried that might have been me the other day. I didn't have any tissues and no handkerchief, so I actually moved carriage as I was sniffing quite a bit and had nowhere to blow my nose (it was total agony!).

 

[Mojo]

Do you say hello to people you see often on your commute?

Yes. A group of 5 of us always used to stand at the front of the same train every morning from Patchway and Filton and speak to each other, sharing Christmas/birthday (as appropriate) cards and also cakes and sweets on Birthdays and also when I left my job.

 

[jon0844]

I concur with this statement, a few beers on a Saturday en route to/from football isn't yet illegal and doesn't require disgusted of Tunbridge Wells tutting their disapproval.

Come on, who doesn't hope to annoy them by doing that - or indeed, dressing down to sit in first class (with a valid ticket, or when it's declassified) and having people tutting and muttering as if you're not allowed there.. and being shamed when it's all fine at the ticket check!!!

 

[Chapeltom]

I concur with this statement, a few beers on a Saturday en route to/from football isn't yet illegal and doesn't require disgusted of Tunbridge Wells tutting their disapproval.

Having a few beers on a train isn't illegal except in exceptional circumstances. Its quite regular you see away fans travelling to games to be supping beers at 10/11 in the morning. I was coming from back home from somewhere a few weeks ago, on the train home and this family made me and my mate feel like crap "We can't sit at that table seat (it was empty opposite to us) those naughty teenagers are drinking beer and shouldn't be". What a stupid comment to make, really wound me up.

 

[GodAtum]

People tutting when eating breakfast. In the morning I often eat a pain au choc on the train and get people tutting!

 

[MikeWh]

Having a few beers on a train isn't illegal except in exceptional circumstances. Its quite regular you see away fans travelling to games to be supping beers at 10/11 in the morning. I was coming from back home from somewhere a few weeks ago, on the train home and this family made me and my mate feel like crap "We can't sit at that table seat (it was empty opposite to us) those naughty teenagers are drinking beer and shouldn't be". What a stupid comment to make, really wound me up.

Just be aware that if you ever travel to games in London, that it *is* against the rules to drink on TfL services.

 

[EM2]

Come on, who doesn't hope to annoy them by doing that - or indeed, dressing down to sit in first class (with a valid ticket, or when it's declassified) and having people tutting and muttering as if you're not allowed there.. and being shamed when it's all fine at the ticket check!!!

I used to like going in to the Duke of York at King's Cross at 7am, having just finished a week of night shifts and ordering a pint of Strongbow, especially as my work uniform is a suit and tie
Filthy looks from everyone else in there who would have tea or coffee and a full English

 

[jon0844]

I've seen plenty of plumbers/electricians/builders in a Wetherspoons in the morning having a pint with their breakfast!! But they ARE about to start the day!!

 

[EM2]

Still might have been doing nights

 

[yorksrob]

1) People tutting when I crack open a can of beer. I'm sorry but it just irritates me, people's natural perception you can't drink on trains. I'm not anti-social and can control my drinking without having someone point and stare.

I agree entirely. Part of the enjoyment is being able to have a few jars. Sometimes I take a plastic glass so that I can drink in a civilised manner

 

[Eng274]

I used to like going in to the Duke of York at King's Cross at 7am, having just finished a week of night shifts and ordering a pint of Strongbow, especially as my work uniform is a suit and tie
Filthy looks from everyone else in there who would have tea or coffee and a full English

1) People tutting when I crack open a can of beer. I'm sorry but it just irritates me, people's natural perception you can't drink on trains. I'm not anti-social and can control my drinking without having someone point and stare.

Ahh, lowering the tone of a room is very much my specialty whenever I'm on a long trip down the West Coast I'll pack a few tins of beer for the trip. Nothing draws disgusted looks more than a can of McEwan's Export, even though TPE stock it on their trolley. If only people knew how better tasting a drink it is than Fosters or Heineken or whatever 'continental' lagers they sell..

 

[sprinterguy]

I've seen plenty of plumbers/electricians/builders in a Wetherspoons in the morning having a pint with their breakfast!! But they ARE about to start the day!!

A pint of ale accompanying a Wetherspoons breakfast is certainly my favourite way to start the day before I go into the office (Or, in fact, before any activity)!

I used to like going in to the Duke of York at King's Cross at 7am, having just finished a week of night shifts and ordering a pint of Strongbow, especially as my work uniform is a suit and tie
Filthy looks from everyone else in there who would have tea or coffee and a full English

I’m working days whilst a friend of mine is on nights in a different job, and we occasionally cross over in our nearest branch of ‘Spoons: I’ll be having breakfast and a pint of something to wake me up, and he’ll be on his evening drinks! Though of course, at the time that we are usually in there, the first drink of the day is a hot chocolate, as Wetherspoons, of course, don’t start serving alcohol until 9am.

I agree entirely. Part of the enjoyment is being able to have a few jars. Sometimes I take a plastic glass so that I can drink in a civilised manner

One of the attractive things about rail travel for me is the freedom to be able to have a few drinks whilst travelling: I like to have a couple of drinks on long distance journeys: It’s nice to keep things mellow to help alleviate the boredom that can occasionally set in after a couple of hours sitting in one place, no matter how much I enjoy travelling by train: Whilst I’ve never sensed any tangible disapproval from passengers surrounding me when I crack open a bottle of cider, it does seem to be the case that having an alcoholic beverage in hand is a sure-fire way to ensure you achieve one of the recurring pet hates on this thread: That of having a free seat next to you, even on some busier trains. I have no desire to hog two seats to myself and have no objection to others sitting next to me; that’s what the seats are there for in the first place; and I’m only occasionally actually drunk on trains, but nonetheless, that’s the effect that the apparent “taboo” of having a drink in hand on board a train causes.

Come on, who doesn't hope to annoy them by doing that - or indeed, dressing down to sit in first class (with a valid ticket, or when it's declassified) and having people tutting and muttering as if you're not allowed there.. and being shamed when it's all fine at the ticket check!!!

There seems to be an unspoken dress code accepted amongst a selection of well-heeled first class passengers that all newcomers to their dominion are compared against as they enter the carriage: I rarely live up to their requirements! Just because I wear a shirt and tie in the office, and hence can afford to splash out on first class travel comfortably frequently, doesn’t mean I’ll still be dressed as such in my leisure time when I make the journey! I’m mainly there for the food and wine most of the time anyway (Except on Crosscountry, where travelling first class is a necessity to ensure getting a seat).

 

[Geezertronic]

There seems to be an unspoken dress code accepted amongst a selection of well-heeled first class passengers that all newcomers to their dominion are compared against as they enter the carriage: I rarely live up to their requirements! Just because I wear a shirt and tie in the office, and hence can afford to splash out on first class travel comfortably frequently, doesn’t mean I’ll still be dressed as such in my leisure time when I make the journey! I’m mainly there for the food and wine most of the time anyway (Except on Crosscountry, where travelling first class is a necessity to ensure getting a seat).

I hear you there. When I used to be able to travel VT First Class for work, there were the suits and scruffy old me in jeans and t-shirt (since work allow casual dress)

 

[Scotty]

I've travelled First Class to football a few times... in full football-going gear (shirt, scarf, jeans, beer...)

 

[sprinterguy]

I've travelled First Class to football a few times... in full football-going gear (shirt, scarf, jeans, beer...)

I bet the first class “regulars” would have absolutely loved that! Though if it was on a weekend, there’s never quite so many disapproving looks as the variety of passengers is understandably more casually attired than during the week.

I hear you there. When I used to be able to travel VT First Class for work, there were the suits and scruffy old me in jeans and t-shirt (since work allow casual dress)

I occasionally get bewildered expressions from the on-train staff as I board the train as well. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly unkempt, but jeans and t-shirt are definitely par for the course most of the time:

“Excuse me, you’ll find that standard class is in the other direction”
Me: “Yes thankyou, I know,” *Pulls out first class ticket* “That’s why I’m going in this direction!”

 

[Oswyntail]

Though I hope I am not a "tutter", I must confess to having an inner wince when it comes to beer drinkers. Just as I don't want the loud-mobile, the chav-princess, or "traveller", the prospect of sitting next to a loud, boorish six-pack consumer does not enhance my anticipation. But, again I hope, I know not all beer drinkers are like that, so I try to contain my anxiety. But the anxiety has arisen out of experience, that tells me that only the worst sort of people want to sit next to me!

 

[Flamingo]

Which is why I always say "First class this end, Standard class the other" in as neutral a tone as I can manage.

However, whenever I get a gang of Football fans in First, I usually check their tickets before leaving London, nine times out of ten they are NOT on first class tickets and require re-education in what part of the train their tickets entitle them to.

 

[Geezertronic]

I occasionally get bewildered expressions from the on-train staff as I board the train as well. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly unkempt, but jeans and t-shirt are definitely par for the course most of the time:

“Excuse me, you’ll find that standard class is in the other direction”
Me: “Yes thankyou, I know,” *Pulls out first class ticket* “That’s why I’m going in this direction!”

Although different, it reminds me of the sketch in "Come Fly With Me" when Penny the posh Stewardess has the "normal" couple evicted from First Class due to their "behaviour"

 

[fairysdad]

Two occasions spring to mind when I've had a beer on a train... first was when me and a mate were in our reserved seats on a table, and a middle-aged woman was on one of the other seats and for some reason I felt as if I should ask if it was okay by her before me and my mate had our beers (bought on the train) - she said it was okay, and I think she appreciated my asking. The second time was one time when I was on my own on a double-seat, sat next to a stranger, didn't ask, yet felt really akward when drinking it, almost as if I was sneaking it...

Generally I'm okay by it - after all, the FGW buffet sells it, so surely they don't mind people drinking it! (With me though, it does depend on if I've got to drive the other side of my journey...)

I'm quite weird; I tend to try and 'dress up' if I'm in first class - nothing special, but a shirt instead of a teeshirt (though not a crisp white!), basically so I don't feel odd! Although I know I could, as other people do, I wouldn't travel with my daughter in first class as she can be a bit noisy sometimes and I know people use FC to get away from loud kids - I know I've done that myself sometimes!