Are window blinds on trains a good idea? What should be done instead?

[Bletchleyite]

I agree. It’s a thoughtless design which would be better if they were half-window blinds at least.

Agreed. Both half-blinds and "horizontal blinds" (curtains fixed at the top and bottom) would avoid the issue and so be better.

They cause conflict and disagreement - most train features (e.g. aircon) are designed to avoid this by having a standardised passenger environment.

 

[class26]

Blinds as on the 800 series trains are a dreadful idea. So one person gets on a 4 seat table bay, starts to work and lowers the blind. Three more people progressively join, lets say man, wife and child. They wish to look out of the window so they can show son various items of interest on the journey or how fast the train is travelling but said person disagrees. This can lead to an argument or an unpleasant situation There are many scenarios but this really isn`t ideal at all.

Agreed. Both half-blinds and "horizontal blinds" (curtains fixed at the top and bottom) would avoid the issue and so be better.

They cause conflict and disagreement - most train features (e.g. aircon) are designed to avoid this by having a standardised passenger environment.

Tinted glass ?
To answer the OP I think blinds as fitted are a dreadful idea

 

[HSTEd]

Smart glass, divided into sections.
No exposed moving parts.

 

[Hadders]

Pendolinos have had window blinds since they were introduced over 15 years ago. Can't be too much of an issue as I can't ever recall a thread on here about them (despite loads of threads about other aspects of Pendolinos )

 

[route101]

Pendolinos have had window blinds since they were introduced over 15 years ago. Can't be too much of an issue as I can't ever recall a thread on here about them (despite loads of threads about other aspects of Pendolinos )

Had a kind who kept putting it down as i was looking out the window. Couldnt say anything ha