Trivia: unwritten etiquette as a railway passenger

[Wolfie]

Do not use the wider ticket gates if you don't have a cycle, pram, wheelchair or bulky luggage! Was travelling back from Dunkeld with my bike a couple of months ago and on disembarking at Queen Street found a small queue of maybe 3 or 4 people faffing at the wide gate (probably searching their wallets for their tickets). With a connection to make at Glasgow Central, I decided to chance using a standard gate, only to be mildly chided by a member of gate line staff as they came to release my bike when my saddle got 'caught in its jaws'!

So l, on crutches, should go through a normal gate that l struggle to get through to let you go through the wide gate with a bloody bike. One word: no!

 

[contrex]

How so? What about hidden disabilities eg autism and sensory processing disorder? The quiet coach should be able to cater for the aforementioned.

The sound of babies crying causes me sensory distress and it's unfair if it's literally a quiet coach. What's the point in having one then?

I was in a Eurostar to Paris around 1996 and a small child in the coach was making what was, really, an unconscionable amount of noise. It was amazingly loud and unremitting. At length an (American, female) voice yelled 'Shaddapp!!". At this a woman, who I presume was the child's mother got up and addressed the coach. "My child has a development disorder, and we are taking him to a specialist in Paris. We have lived with this for some months now. It'll end for you at Gare du Nord. Not for us".

 

[riceuten]

On a train, someone on mobile had a poor connection, kept saying "can you hear me?" Completely out of character I said " we can all here you". Didn't get an applause from fellow passengers but there were audible sniggers.

I had this with a bloke who was conducting what sounded like confidential HR business and shouted at someone on the same table because he thought the person was listening in to the conversation!

"It would be hard not to listen, mate" came the reply.

 

[Beebman]

Some years ago I was on a Eurostar to Brussels when in the same coach a guy was discussing finance-related stuff on his phone with someone, audible but not too loud. Suddenly he lost his temper and started loudly effing and blinding at whoever he was speaking too. Realising that he was causing a disturbance he quickly went into the vestibule. On his return he apologised to everyone.

 

[TUC]

So l, on crutches, should go through a normal gate that l struggle to get through to let you go through the wide gate with a bloody bike. One word: no!

I don't think the comment excluded people such as yourself, unless you only took it extremely literally.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't think the comment excluded people such as yourself, unless you only took it extremely literally.

The first sentence was proscriptive - "don't" "unless".

 

[zwk500]

The first sentence was proscriptive - "don't" "unless".

It could have been worded slightly better - 'Don't use the wide gate unless you genuinely can't use the normal ones' - but we can give the poster the benefit of the doubt that the spirit was there.

 

[Wolfie]

It could have been worded slightly better - 'Don't use the wide gate unless you genuinely can't use the normal ones' - but we can give the poster the benefit of the doubt that the spirit was there.

Ok, that's a fair comment.

 

[Thebaz]

Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna Everage, Sir Leslie Colin Patterson of The Australian Cheese Board, Sandy Stone et al) did similar on a Frankston to Flinders Street suburban electric Tait train many years ago in Victioria Australia:

WHEN the City of Melbourne asked train commuters for their travel memories for the Southern Crossings arts project, you would expect an avalanche of narky gibes about late trains or the myki non-ticketing system running even later. But Rick Reynolds has a gem about Camberwell's favourite son Barry Humphries masterminding a breakfast delivery to himself on the way to school. Humphries, engaging in a spot of suburban theatre, instructed friends to stand at specific points on the platform, ready for his train to pull in. Reynolds recalled: ''As the doors opened, each one would then pass to him a certain aspect of his breakfast. At stop one he would be passed a teacup. Stop two, he would be poured the cup of tea. Stop three, he would be passed a plate; at four a piece of toast; five, butter; six, jam etc. So when he arrived at the final stop, he had consumed a complete breakfast.''

Superb!

 

[bearhugger]

On a train, someone on mobile had a poor connection, kept saying "can you hear me?" Completely out of character I said " we can all here you". Didn't get an applause from fellow passengers but there were audible sniggers.

On occasion, I have used "Unfortunately, yes!".
As a Station Adopter, part of the T&Cs for our passes is that we give up our seat for anyone if the train is busy. In my experience, that rarely needs to happen, most often happens on Class 185s as I prefer to sit in the ballroom, which is the wheelchair space, so will always move elsewhere if wheelchair users board.

 

[43066]

On occasion, I have used "Unfortunately, yes!".
As a Station Adopter, part of the T&Cs for our passes is that we give up our seat for anyone if the train is busy. In my experience, that rarely needs to happen, most often happens on Class 185s as I prefer to sit in the ballroom, which is the wheelchair space, so will always move elsewhere if wheelchair users board.

Out of interest, what is a Station Adopter?

 

[43096]

Out of interest, what is a Station Adopter?

A volunteer who waters the cat and feeds the plants at a particular station.

 

[XAM2175]

Pressing the button before it lights up actually does nothing. Would probably have more of a chance of something happening if it was held down.

I really do wish we could be trusted with door preselection

 

[CaptainHaddock]

If you're travelling on a scenic route on a sunny day, don't pull the blinds down so you can gawp at your phone or laptop without glare on the screen. Other people may want to enjoy the view.

 

[kristiang85]

Do not use the wider ticket gates if you don't have a cycle, pram, wheelchair or bulky luggage! Was travelling back from Dunkeld with my bike a couple of months ago and on disembarking at Queen Street found a small queue of maybe 3 or 4 people faffing at the wide gate (probably searching their wallets for their tickets). With a connection to make at Glasgow Central, I decided to chance using a standard gate, only to be mildly chided by a member of gate line staff as they came to release my bike when my saddle got 'caught in its jaws'!

If the wide gate is free and the others aren't, I use it.

But then again I always have my ticket in my hand ready to use, so I guess the etiqutte should be 'don't stand in front of any gate unless you have your ticket ready', which I agree is massive bugbear of mine.

 

[43066]

A volunteer who waters the cat and feeds the plants at a particular station.

Got you. A little cheeky of the railway to ask for volunteers to do what it arguably ought to be doing in the first place!

 

[43096]

Got you. A little cheeky of the railway to ask for volunteers to do what it arguably ought to be doing in the first place!

I think it tends to be for the smaller stations that are often unstaffed, so you can see why the TOCs like it.

 

[TUC]

There are still plenty of families where they either can't afford a car (and manage what little travel they do on public transport) or indeed cannot drive either through health grounds or just can't afford to learn and take a test. Nobody should assume that anybody else fits into a demographic based on unqualified observation of residential areas.

Very much agree. I didn't pass my driving test until I was 33, mainly because my parents didn't have a car so didn't feel any urgency to do so.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

If you're getting on a busy train with a massive suitcase, don't block the aisles by spending ages trying to ram said case onto the luggage rack while the carriage fills up from the other end of the carriage, meaning passengers boarding behind you miss out on a seat. Stand aside so everyone can find a seat - there'll be plenty of time to play with your luggage once the train sets off!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If the wide gate is free and the others aren't, I use it.

But then again I always have my ticket in my hand ready to use, so I guess the etiqutte should be 'don't stand in front of any gate unless you have your ticket ready', which I agree is massive bugbear of mine.

Hear hear!

Nothing worse than someone power-walking to get to the gate first, and only once they're at the gate do they reach into their pocket to get their ticket.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Got you. A little cheeky of the railway to ask for volunteers to do what it arguably ought to be doing in the first place!

I’d love to hear your ‘argument’ for why GBR should provide and care for cats and plants at every station.

(Incidentally, I am happy to be a ‘station friend’ as we call them on my local line, but we don’t have cats.)

 

[43066]

I’d love to hear your ‘argument’ for why GBR should provide and care for cats and plants at every station.

(Incidentally, I am happy to be a ‘station friend’ as we call them on my local line.)

Well, obviously, GBR should provide stationmasters and porters at every station to look after the cats and plants…

Edit: this one is close to me. Probably one of the nicest stations in the whole of the U.K.:

Elmstead Woods Station Gardening Club

A Community Garden

elmsteadwoodsgardenclub.wordpress.com

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you're getting on a busy train with a massive suitcase, don't block the aisles by spending ages trying to ram said case onto the luggage rack while the carriage fills up from the other end of the carriage, meaning passengers boarding behind you miss out on a seat. Stand aside so everyone can find a seat - there'll be plenty of time to play with your luggage once the train sets off!

This can be designed out by putting the luggage rack in the middle of the coach as Virgin did on the XC Mk2s.

 

[Purple Train]

A question regarding etiquette - what do people think is the correct way to sort out your seating arrangements if you're part of a group that wants to sit together, but is five- or six-strong?

 

[ASharpe]

A question regarding etiquette - what do people think is the correct way to sort out your seating arrangements if you're part of a group that wants to sit together, but is five- or six-strong?

If you can manage a quiet train get a pair of tables and spread yourselves out. People can choose to sit next to you

If it's a busy don't expect to get seats as a full group, but if there is a lone traveller on a pair of tables it's fair game to sit next to/opposite them (but if you are drinking be sure to offer them one).

If it's 3+2 on a commuter line then don't feel you have to make use of the middle seats, it's not your fault the train is designed that way.

 

[TUC]

If the train has reaached its terminus and you are in an aisle seat, don't wait until everyone else has disembarked before putting your book/IPad away and letting your fellow passenger in the window seat get out.

 

[BenS123]

It sounds really minor but loitering around in busy areas (such as smaller gatelines with no intent to go through the gates)

 

[Purple Train]

If you can manage a quiet train get a pair of tables and spread yourselves out. People can choose to sit next to you

If it's a busy don't expect to get seats as a full group, but if there is a lone traveller on a pair of tables it's fair game to sit next to/opposite them (but if you are drinking be sure to offer them one).

If it's 3+2 on a commuter line then don't feel you have to make use of the middle seats, it's not your fault the train is designed that way.

Interesting - my preferred method is to simply sit in the middle of two seats in 2+2 formation so everyone can fit round one table (being comparatively small does have its advantages )

 

[43066]

A question regarding etiquette - what do people think is the correct way to sort out your seating arrangements if you're part of a group that wants to sit together, but is five- or six-strong?

Aggressive manspreading combined with under breath muttering usually guarantees free seats either side in my experience .

 

[43066]

Deleted.

Agreed. There and Chislehurst are roses between the thorns of Petts Wood and Grove Park!