Trivia: unwritten etiquette as a railway passenger

[kentrailman]

Currently on a three plus two seating south west trains service and come across another. People sitting on double seats pointing outwards towards the aisle so they are looking directly at the seats on the opposite side of the aisle .. It works , in terms of putting people off sitting in the seats opposite !

Yes woman with the book on the 1430 Waterloo to Portsmouth front coach ..I mean you !

 

[Bletchleyite]

Currently on a three plus two seating south west trains service and come across another. People sitting on double seats pointing outwards towards the aisle so they are looking directly at the seats on the opposite side of the aisle .. It works , in terms of putting people off sitting in the seats opposite !

People do that because the legroom is way too tight on the 2 side.

 

[Wolfie]

Currently on a three plus two seating south west trains service and come across another. People sitting on double seats pointing outwards towards the aisle so they are looking directly at the seats on the opposite side of the aisle .. It works , in terms of putting people off sitting in the seats opposite !

What the heck. Those aisles are hardly broad to start with.

 

[trainophile]

The sorts of bags that people usually put on seats are generally the small variety that can go under the seat if necessary, though.

Not if it’s a carrrier bag full of shopping, that won’t stand up by itself. You risk losing your carrots or apples under the seats or half way down the train, especially now the supermarkets don’t give out any bags for loose produce.

On TfW 175 trains the overhead racks are not deep enough for anything more than a briefcase, coat or very thin case or backpack. I wouldn’t mind £1 for every time I’ve seen someone trying to stuff their case up there and have to give up.

 

[Techniquest]

See I've not had that problem on a 175, I've always found the overheads large enough for everything I might put up there. To be fair though, it's unusual to the extreme for me to travel with luggage bigger than cabin baggage that I can put on my back. I haven't seen those bags in Home Bargains ever since I got one, but they are absolutely brilliant. I took one with me on my first cycling tour almost exactly 2 years ago and the amount you can get in one is just incredible. Much better than the pull-along cases for a week or just under of stuff, although of course it's not recommended to carry that much weight on one's back for many hours! It would have easily fitted on a 175 though!

Regarding the person whose post finished the last page off, I'm not great at blowing my nose I have to admit. Mostly from the average bloke's 'I don't need that' attitude when it comes to tissues etc, but I did have to adjust that train of thought after last Sunday's adventure where the chilly wind was causing my nose to run. Blowing my nose meant then wiping the expulsed stuff away with my glove, said gloves are being retired after 2 and something years of intense use though! I made a mental note to pack tissues next time! It's also worth noting that there's a cold bug going around something fierce at the moment, thanks to the drastic change in the weather!

 

[Howardh]

Can depend on temperament -- I'm male, and not a participant in sports involving copious paraphernalia; and have been an object of ridicule lifelong to my family and friends, for being seemingly unable to go off for even the shortest spell away from home, without taking with me everything but the proverbial kitchen sink.

Since (a) it's more cost effective not to have hold baggage and (b) the stuff will get lost anyway, I've become an expert at packing a cabin bag, even for week-long holidays abroad!

 

[py_megapixel]

There is a bit of an issue where LNR are substituting for Avanti's problems, though Desiros do have large overheads which people need to actually use.

I imagine frequent Avanti users who have ended up on LNR are used to their luggage not fitting in the rubbish ones on Pendolinos/Voyagers, and so they don't even think to try them.

 

[Huntergreed]

I’ll add to this, using the only working toilet on the unit as a private makeup room, as I’ve just witnessed a 50ish year old do on this Scotrail 156.

They had a full array of different makeup tools and palettes laid out on the baby changing table and the mirror even had a few smears!

Amusing until the loo queue is 4 deep and the door swings open, exposing the truth behind what we thought was a smoker trying to get one over.

 

[duncanp]

I’ll add to this, using the only working toilet on the unit as a private makeup room, as I’ve just witnessed a 50ish year old do on this Scotrail 156.

They had a full array of different makeup tools and palettes laid out on the baby changing table and the mirror even had a few smears!

Amusing until the loo queue is 4 deep and the door swings open, exposing the truth behind what we thought was a smoker trying to get one over.

I have seen people using the toilet as a changing room, exiting the toilet in a different set of clothes to when they went in.

But there again, I have seen people use the toilet for activities which are best not mentioned on a family friendly forum.

 

[Wolfie]

I have seen people using the toilet as a changing room, exiting the toilet in a different set of clothes to when they went in.

But there again, I have seen people use the toilet for activities which are best not mentioned on a family friendly forum.

I have to say that the state of your average train loo is quite sufficient to permanently put me off the idea of using one to join the rail equivalent of the mile-high club....

 

[Mikey C]

I have to say that the state of your average train loo is quite sufficient to permanently put me off the idea of using one to join the rail equivalent of the mile-high club....

At least the disabled toilets have plenty of room, though those annoying announcements that Virgin Trains used to have would be quite distracting

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Children - when you're at a station and see your train approaching the platform you don't need to start jumping up and down and screaming excitedly "Mum! Mum! The train's here!".

Your mum has read the timetable, she already knows when the train is likely to arrive.




No, I don't like children on trains very much.

 

[12C]

Children - when you're at a station and see your train approaching the platform you don't need to start jumping up and down and screaming excitedly "Mum! Mum! The train's here!".

Your mum has read the timetable, she already knows when the train is likely to arrive.




No, I don't like children on trains very much.

I think the opposite, I love seeing kids taking an interest in the railway and try to encourage it with my own children as much as possible. We were all that age once and it’s nice to sometimes see a spark of excitement, after all they might be the ones who keep heritage railways going in the future.

I’d much rather be on a train with families with slightly over excited kids than obnoxious, sweary drunk adults.

 

[duncanp]

Your mum has read the timetable, she already knows when the train is likely to arrive.

Which mystery TOC is this, where you know when the train is likely to arrive simply by reading the timetable?

Certainly not Avanti.

 

[fwsmVor]

Children - when you're at a station and see your train approaching the platform you don't need to start jumping up and down and screaming excitedly "Mum! Mum! The train's here!".

Your mum has read the timetable, she already knows when the train is likely to arrive.




No, I don't like children on trains very much.

The level of disdain for children and families on trains seen in this thread is quite depressing in a country with a rapidly ageing population.

 

[SteveyBee131]

I think the opposite, I love seeing kids taking an interest in the railway and try to encourage it with my own children as much as possible. We were all that age once and it’s nice to sometimes see a spark of excitement, after all they might be the ones who keep heritage railways going in the future.

I’d much rather be on a train with families with slightly over excited kids than obnoxious, sweary drunk adults.

Me too! It's brilliant to see children interested in something that isn't a phone, tablet or other immersive device!

 

[Techniquest]

I have seen people using the toilet as a changing room, exiting the toilet in a different set of clothes to when they went in.

But there again, I have seen people use the toilet for activities which are best not mentioned on a family friendly forum.

I've done that a number of times over the last 19 years. Many different reasons, but two that come to mind are:

Having finished work in the small hours of the morning/late evening and having been away from home thus needing to change on the overnight/early morning train. Not needed to do that for a long time thankfully!

After getting rather wet in unforecast heavy rain, changing into dry clothes on the train. Yes this happened to me only a few weeks ago!

I've also changed clothes on a train during my 2011 and 2012 ALRs.

I think the opposite, I love seeing kids taking an interest in the railway and try to encourage it with my own children as much as possible. We were all that age once and it’s nice to sometimes see a spark of excitement, after all they might be the ones who keep heritage railways going in the future.

I’d much rather be on a train with families with slightly over excited kids than obnoxious, sweary drunk adults.

I have to agree, a train of hyper children is much superior to a train full of over-grown, under-matured adults pumped full of cigarettes and/or alcohol. As much as I'm not a fan of children, they are much easier to deal with than intoxicated adults!

 

[Flying Snail]

I've done that a number of times over the last 19 years. Many different reasons, but two that come to mind are:

Having finished work in the small hours of the morning/late evening and having been away from home thus needing to change on the overnight/early morning train. Not needed to do that for a long time thankfully!

After getting rather wet in unforecast heavy rain, changing into dry clothes on the train. Yes this happened to me only a few weeks ago!

I've also changed clothes on a train during my 2011 and 2012 ALRs.

I thought we were in for a juicy story there for a sec.

 

[43066]

I love seeing kids taking an interest in the railway and try to encourage it with my own children as much as possible. We were all that age once and it’s nice to sometimes see a spark of excitement, after all they might be the ones who keep heritage railways going in the future.

I agree with that. It’s great seeing kids being excited by trains on and around stations, or waving with parents from bridges. Unfortunately blowing the horn has mixed results - sometimes it terrifies them!

 

[Techniquest]

I thought we were in for a juicy story there for a sec.

Sorry to let you down! You clearly don't know me too well! Even if there had been something 'juicy' (orange or apple? Or perhaps mango? ) was to be told, and a breach of ethics was somehow had, the story would be of only one nature. It would be worthy of a short novel, much akin to my average trip report

What I *can* tell you though is that getting changed in the small lavatory of an XC HST, with a very basic wash, on the way out of Dundee after arriving on the Cally Insomnie, well it's as fun and easy as it sounds. Good gravy that experience was way back in summer 2011, now a little over 11 years ago!

I can also tell you that the larger lavatory on an ex-Central Trains 158 on the 0150 Fishguard Harbour to Swansea featured a change of clothes, I must have not wanted to connect onto a FGW HST in my Pizza Hut uniform Now that is going back a fair few years, that would have been 2005! 17 years ago, excuse me I must go for a trip down Nostalgia Avenue!

The closest to 'juicy' you'll get from me is the most recent change of clothes on a train. That was on a GTi HST from Highbridge & Burnham to Newport, after the non-forecast heavy rain in Somerset. I'd been in an athletic t-shirt, bib cycling shorts, cycling socks and my running trainers. The heavy rain was seriously unwelcome for both me and my Blue Beauty (my road bike), and I had to buy new clothes in Asda Highbridge. I couldn't afford, nor had room in my backpack, for new underwear, and imagine the fun of wearing accidentally-bought wrong-size jeans in that situation later on when I had a short ride in Wales!

 

[Jimini]

I couldn't afford, nor had room in my backpack, for new underwear, and imagine the fun of wearing accidentally-bought wrong-size jeans in that situation later on when I had a short ride in Wales!

Story of the day

 

[Techniquest]

Story of the day

I'm glad I have brightened up your day then! Considering how cold, wet and rancid the weather has been here today, anything would help I'd imagine!

I must make sure, though, that you are noting that the ride in Wales was on my bike. No euphemism or similar was intended!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I have seen people using the toilet as a changing room, exiting the toilet in a different set of clothes to when they went in.

But there again, I have seen people use the toilet for activities which are best not mentioned on a family friendly forum.

The weirdest unconventional use of a train toilet I've heard of was a tale from my cousin who opened the door to a toilet on a 458 to discover it was occupied (but not locked) by a group of several youths who were in the middle of filling the fuel tank on one of those mini motorbikes...

 

[Wolfie]

I'm glad I have brightened up your day then! Considering how cold, wet and rancid the weather has been here today, anything would help I'd imagine!

I must make sure, though, that you are noting that the ride in Wales was on my bike. No euphemism or similar was intended!

Not sure that l should mention what a "bike" was in nasty old sexist times....

 

[Techniquest]

Not sure that l should mention what a "bike" was in nasty old sexist times....

I was always led to believe, when growing up, that 'bike' is a derogatory term for a woman who goes round and round intimately with men. Or something like that anyway. Mind you, the same could easily apply to men doing that with women, but I don't believe it was ever viewed in such a negative light.

Very glad, I be, that we aren't in such sexist times. Anyway, we're getting a bit far from unwritten rules of etiquette! So here's one from me:

If your food has made a mess on the seat, with lots of crumbs off your baguette/biscuits/whatever, please don't leave it on the seat and brush it onto the floor. Quite, leaving part-consumed cups of coffee on the table and other rubbish gets my goat up!

 

[Wolfie]

I was always led to believe, when growing up, that 'bike' is a derogatory term for a woman who goes round and round intimately with men. Or something like that anyway. Mind you, the same could easily apply to men doing that with women, but I don't believe it was ever viewed in such a negative light.

Very glad, I be, that we aren't in such sexist times. Anyway, we're getting a bit far from unwritten rules of etiquette! So here's one from me:

If your food has made a mess on the seat, with lots of crumbs off your baguette/biscuits/whatever, please don't leave it on the seat and brush it onto the floor. Quite, leaving part-consumed cups of coffee on the table and other rubbish gets my goat up!

Wholly agreed. I am sadly old enough to remember the bad old days that you mention.

 

[43066]

Don’t tut and make passive aggressive comments when there’s someone sitting in the front seats of the DLR, just because your children want to sit there. “Pretending to drive the train” appeals to kids of all ages, even overgrown ones who actually drive trains for a living.

 

[SteveyBee131]

Don’t tut and make passive aggressive comments when there’s someone sitting in the front seats of the DLR, just because your children want to sit there. “Pretending to drive the train” appeals to kids of all ages, even overgrown ones who actually drive trains for a living.

Likewise on the Tyne and Wear Metro whilst it's still possible there!

 

[43066]

Likewise on the Tyne and Wear Metro whilst it's still possible there!

I’ve never been. Can you sit in the front seats?

I might have to plan a trip…

 

[trainophile]

Last time I used it a few weeks ago they still had the very front seats, adjacent to the driver's cab door, taped off. You could sit in the single forward facing seat but if anyone sat in the opposite backwards one there goes your view.