Designated Quiet Coaches

[Turbocharger]

Traveled from Leeds to Kingsx on Friday. I was in the 1st class quiet coach and someone was using their mobile phone (obviously for their company) at the top of their voice on four separate calls during the trip.

The signs in the coach says "Phones should be on silent and calls to be made and received in the vestibules".

What sort of company employs an ignorant idiot like that? Shocking.

 

[Flying Snail]

Traveled from Leeds to Kingsx on Friday. I was in the 1st class quiet coach and someone was using their mobile phone (obviously for their company) at the top of their voice on four separate calls during the trip.

The signs in the coach says "Phones should be on silent and calls to be made and received in the vestibules".

What sort of company employs an ignorant idiot like that? Shocking.

And what happened when you told them to shut up? Nothing I'll bet because you sat there and said nothing while quietly raging inside.

People like this only act in the selfish manner they do because they are let away with it.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Just a quick question, was the first class accommodation on the train full?

 

[LE Greys]

No need to say anything, just a good, firm glare for the entire duration of the call.

 

[bb21]

If someone's loud in a Quiet Coach, I would normally politely request that they keep their voices low, and I won't give an inch until they oblige. There are surprisingly many people who will back you up in those situations. It amazes me just how many people who sit there and suffer miserably rather than stand up for their rights.

The worst I got back was a mouthful from a woman in her 40s but when the rest of the coach told her to shut up she soon backed off.

 

[O L Leigh]

And yet Virgin designate the First Class quiet coach on the Pendolinos as the one with the pantograph on the roof. Every time it goes through a neutral section there is a loud and intrusive double bang as the breaker opens.

Go figure.

O L Leigh

 

[12CSVT]

If someone's loud in a Quiet Coach, I would normally politely request that they keep their voices low, and I won't give an inch until they oblige. There are surprisingly many people who will back you up in those situations. It amazes me just how many people who sit there and suffer miserably rather than stand up for their rights.

The worst I got back was a mouthful from a woman in her 40s but when the rest of the coach told her to shut up she soon backed off.

I hope you reported this obnoxious woman to the train manager, as her abusive behaviour was quite clearly against railway bye-laws.

 

[Turbocharger]

And what happened when you told them to shut up? Nothing I'll bet because you sat there and said nothing while quietly raging inside.

People like this only act in the selfish manner they do because they are let away with it.

If I was a paying customer I would have said something to them directly believe me. But I travel on a staff/partner BR/EC card and so have to be very careful sadly.

I did mention to the guard about it and words were said. No more calls. The coach was half full with mainly elderly people, so had to do something.

Believe me I have acted to help guards with problem passengers who get abusive/violent to staff. I won't stand for that.

 

[wintonian]

No need to say anything, just a good, firm glare for the entire duration of the call.

I tried this last time I was in this situation - It didn't make a blind bit of difference. So I had a moan to the guard who told me I should have moaned at the bloke on the phone, she of course was quite right but I was being tired and grumpy that day and didn't want to get into an argument.

 

[bb21]

I hope you reported this obnoxious woman to the train manager, as her abusive behaviour was quite clearly against railway bye-laws.

I did as I got off at Exeter St David's. I was only on the train from Newton Abbot. She was supposedly travelling to Taunton so I'm not sure whether anything was done about her.

I tried this last time I was in this situation - It didn't make a blind bit of difference.

I found that most of the time staring does not work. They're ignorant enough to flaunt the rules. They're sure not to take any notice of some nobody giving a disapproved look.

 

[Turbocharger]

To be honest I don't think a lot of them notice they are in the quiet car. Done it myself. But then it hasn't taken me long to clock the signs!

 

[TEW]

I've seen a small fight over someone playing music out of there phone before. Someone asked them to stop, but the person playing the music didn't take kindly to that and it all got a bit out of hand. In the end the guard moved the individuals to opposite ends of the train.

 

[SS4]

What sort of company employs an ignorant idiot like that? Shocking.

I'd say it's relatively common actually. After all to many companies the end justifies the means. Head office won't care, especially if the call earned the company money...

 

[Turbocharger]

I've seen a small fight over someone playing music out of there phone before.

My own view is even outside the quiet coach there is a limit to what people should have to put up with noise wise. And it's also an indication to staff that someone playing very loud music is going to be a problem passenger from the off.

Same as the feet on seats and tables etc. They will kick off if approached by anyone. Public or staff sadly.

 

[LE Greys]

I tried this last time I was in this situation - It didn't make a blind bit of difference. So I had a moan to the guard who told me I should have moaned at the bloke on the phone, she of course was quite right but I was being tired and grumpy that day and didn't want to get into an argument.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of one of my stares? I learnt it as a technique for psyching-out batsmen when I used to play cricket. Focus precisely on the bridge of the nose and don't blink. Works especially well if you move your head slowly towards the target at the same time. Think Terminator.

 

[TUC]

I have to admit to getting caught out using a mobile in a quiet coach on a Southern service yesterday. I'd jumped on the service and sat halfway down the train. The phone rang and I answered it, only to get a woman pointing at a 'quiet coach sign. I just wasn't expecting a quiet coach halfway down the train rather than at the ends and the signs were pretty small. (it turned out to be two sets together which is why the quiet coach was halfway down) si it is possible to accidently breach it without any intent.

 

[Turbocharger]

Think Terminator.

I think we all would in those situations and throw them out the window. But we have laws sadly.

 

[GNER 373]

My advice would be to ask the offending party whether they were aware of the fact that the coach in which they are currently habituating is indeed a quiet coach. Most of the time, as previous posts show, that they know not what they do!

However if they do raise decibels intentionally, I kindly remind them that the point of a quiet coach is to remain as quiet as is possible for the passengers who adhere to the ruling whilst smiling to let them know it's a friendly gesture.

I dont immediately say anything of course, I normally give everyone the chance to 'get settled' and make the required amount of sound it takes to get comfortable and switch of the mobiles. I don't even tut when a phone accidentally rings and is cut straight off.

BUT if the offending parties do not heed my kind message, I simply rise from my seat and bear down on them. I have the build of a small tank and only slightly come across as a threat, I gently remind them that 99% of the current coach capacity have paid good money to travel in this particular coach and that they would do well to appeal to everyone's wishes to stop being selfish.

I must add I am a softy and would never engage in threatening or abusive ways and I've only ever had to use the second tactic twice and one of these occasions was at my younger sister who had troubles remaining quiet and still!

I believe only when people make a stand against ignorant passengers as those who deliberately flout the rules of the coach will this remain a problem on Britain's and indeed the worlds railways!

 

[Turbocharger]

My advice

I agree 100% but I just know someone will say they are talking quietly and their phone is on silent ring. Which okay I understand but........ rules are rules and they will kick off for me being pedantic

 

[GNER 373]

All phones must be switched off the sign reads which means your well within your rights to be pedantic!

Great Avatar by the way

 

[Essexman]

I too give the long glare, but also sometimes speak to the person.

On Monday from Peterborough to Kings Cross there was a man talking very loudly on phone in quiet coach who moved to the vestibule when I asked him to stop.

 

[amcluesent]

TRavelling 'K' this morning, the business person opposite has cheap 'leaky' earphones, so there's tsh, tsh, tsh.

Pretty rare in FC TBH.

No bother to me as I use my mp3 player in K, but with in-ear phones.

 

[AlterEgo]

And yet Virgin designate the First Class quiet coach on the Pendolinos as the one with the pantograph on the roof. Every time it goes through a neutral section there is a loud and intrusive double bang as the breaker opens.

Go figure.

O L Leigh

Quite. I have never personally understood this, although as the pan coach is a trailing (non motor) coach I guess it was misguidedly thought it would be quieter as a result.

I did travel from Brum to London once in that coach and a lady opposite was sleeping, sat directly beneath the recessed roof that houses the pantograph. Every time we passed one of those little white signs the loud "pop" woke her up!

 

[Dreadnought]

If I was a paying customer I would have said something to them directly believe me. But I travel on a staff/partner BR/EC card and so have to be very careful sadly.

Not sure why you have to be careful.

In my opinion if you are travelling in the Quiet coach then you have as much right as the next person to ask someone to respect this environment regardless of travel documents being used.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not sure why you have to be careful.

In my opinion if you are travelling in the Quiet coach then you have as much right as the next person to ask someone to respect this environment regardless of travel documents being used.

Yes - but these situations can, sometimes, cause a scene. It does not look good for a member of railway staff, travelling pass, to be at the centre of a passenger dispute!

I often have to bite my tongue on the train. Before I was rail staff I'd have had no problem with telling people to quieten down!

 

[krisk]

And yet Virgin designate the First Class quiet coach on the Pendolinos as the one with the pantograph on the roof. Every time it goes through a neutral section there is a loud and intrusive double bang as the breaker opens.

Go figure.

O L Leigh

Coach K people would moan about the kitchen, carts banging, milk steaming, staff breaks. Coach J full of advance first can't use that as not many spare seats. Coach G well there would be tears when declassed as there is no quiet zone.

For me a quiet coach is more trouble than its worth every day people are politely reminded but not everyone listens. You get confrontation when you ask people, confrontation when they don't listen and confrontation if you do nothing.

It's not in the conditions of carriage you can't use a phone. And no I will bit tell people to talk quietly or to move if they have young children. And yes I have been asked that before

If people can't use a phone at a level that doesn't disturb others then its a sad state of play

 

[pendolino]

I have to admit to getting caught out using a mobile in a quiet coach on a Southern service yesterday.

Southern have quiet coaches? I didn't know that. Maybe when I next drive a 456 on its own, I will make a PA announcement that 'coaches 1 & 2 are designated quiet coaches, please refrain from using mobile phones'.

On a related note, what about people who make long unending phone calls when not in a quiet coach? I was on a train recently and the person sitting behind me was on the phone constantly for over an hour before I had to move or end up getting very irate at him. Even going through tunnels, he would try and continue the conversation: 'hello?...................hello?.................hello?..................hello?.............hello?.....................hello?............hello?' until we emerged at the far end and they got the signal back and carried on talking.

Is that reasonable even though it wasn't a designated quiet coach? There were no quiet coaches on that service; even after I moved I ended sitting behind someone with headphones on playing really terrible 70s glam rock so loud I could hear every word.

 

[Turbocharger]

Yes - but these situations can, sometimes, cause a scene. It does not look good for a member of railway staff, travelling pass, to be at the centre of a passenger dispute!

I often have to bite my tongue on the train. Before I was rail staff I'd have had no problem with telling people to quieten down!

Indeed, I do not want to be involved in passenger disputes as the guard will know I have a staff card and may feel I have made a situation worse. I would rather advise the guard and allow them to judge the situ first.

I never abuse my staff card, but do feel I have a responsibility to assist staff or act in cases of train safety or acts of violence against passengers or staff.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All phones must be switched off the sign reads which means your well within your rights to be pedantic!

Great Avatar by the way

East Coast quiet coach rules are "No making or receiving mobile phone calls in this coach. Please go to the vestibule at the end of the coach to talk on the phone.
Use all electrical equipment in silent mode.
If chatting with fellow passengers, please do so quietly and with consideration
for others."

So nothing about actually having to switch off mobile phones.

And like wise on your Avatar

 

[GNER 373]

East Coast quiet coach rules are "No making or receiving mobile phone calls in this coach. Please go to the vestibule at the end of the coach to talk on the phone.
Use all electrical equipment in silent mode.
If chatting with fellow passengers, please do so quietly and with consideration
for others."

So nothing about actually having to switch off mobile phones.

And like wise on your Avatar

Thats what I meant, now you are being pedantic hahaha

 

[Pumbaa]

And yet Virgin designate the First Class quiet coach on the Pendolinos as the one with the pantograph on the roof. Every time it goes through a neutral section there is a loud and intrusive double bang as the breaker opens.

Go figure.

O L Leigh

It was originally G when first introduced, but as it gets declassified so frequently it was negating the point. Thus it was moved to H as the next best alternative.