Eating smelly food on trains

[J-2739]

I'd rather someone brought a delicious aromatic curry on the train, than those disgusting smelling cream cheese flavoured pringles that make me want to gag.

It's funny to see how differently people react to the same foods. I'd personally not find Pringles to be gag-worthy, and as for curry, they of course come in many different varieties, some quite nice, some not so much.

I think what makes some smells even more intolerable is in the confined space of a train, that you can't easily escape from.

 

[NSE]

M&S etc could really do with adopting the compostable single use bags Co-op do. They aren't good for doing your shopping, where you should really bring a reusable one, but when you've had an "M&S banquet" a single-use bag is handy for collecting and disposing of the often food-covered litter. I suspect this alone would reduce train littering a bit.

The paper ones they offer now are all very well but are mostly too big and quite rigid so hard to get into a train bin.

No those paper bags are a pain to fold and get in the bins.

Exactly. Yesterday I boarded a train on which someone had left a large paper bag from a well known burger chain blocking one seat, simply ignorant and selfish.

It’s lazy. Fill up the bag and take it with you. I’ve bought brownies from AMT on East Croydon station platform and when finished, I couldn’t find any bin, so I asked AMT if I could put it there. Not difficult. Failing that, I’d put it in my pocket or bag. It’s not hard.

 

[yorksrob]

I think what makes some smells even more intolerable is in the confined space of a train, that you can't easily escape from.

I agree with that.

I guess the counterpoint is that dining has been a fixture of train travel for over a century, and the ability to have lunch on the move far outweighs the disadvantage of the odd unpleasant whiff for me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess the counterpoint is that dining has been a fixture of train travel for over a century, and the ability to have lunch on the move far outweighs the disadvantage of the odd unpleasant whiff for me.

The advancements in the cold food market (from "BR sandwiches" to the excellent range at M&S Food) has meant it is possible to have lunch without stinking a train out now.

 

[yorksrob]

The advancements in the cold food market (from "BR sandwiches" to the excellent range at M&S Food) has meant it is possible to have lunch without stinking a train out now.

I get sick of sandwiches personally.

 

[Thebaz]

Personally I fear the evening train home from work wondering who will end sitting next to me eating what. I cannot stand the noise of mastication, slurping and loudly rustling crisp packets and keep my earphones on hand just in case. Even worse are those who buy the greasiest food possible and spread it out all over the table whilst watching their laptop oblivious to other passengers, then wipe their hands on the seat, their trousers or whatever comes to hand and then leave it for others to clean up. Long distance journeys I can understand the need for sustenance but not commuter trains - wait 'til you get home please! Even at the height of drunkenness I'll take my kebab home to eat rather than subject my fellow passengers to a slurpfest. I happen to think it's rude to eat a meal opposite someone else who isn't eating - I won't even do this at home.

 

[greyman42]

Some women also wear unpleasant-smelling perfume.

Perfume always smells nice to me as the nice smell helps with sales.

Back in the days of restaurant cars, did people complain about the smell of food?

 

[NSE]

Perfume always smells nice to me as the nice smell helps with sales.

Back in the days of restaurant cars, did people complain about the smell of food?

It’s all subjective and contextual though isn’t it. I like the deodorant I wear, would I want to sniff a very concentrated amount in a very tightly crowded environment where I couldn’t escape it, no not really. But that probably goes for most smells! I’m not a vaperist, but I’ve smelled some that smell quite nice. Then I remember that the scent I’m breathing has been blown out someone’s nose/mouth and then the smell suddenly isn’t so appealing haha

I doubt people complained about the restaurant car as it’s contained to that car. One would argue that’s the benefit of having the dedicated coach as it keeps the smells in there.