Designated Quiet Coaches

[Seacook]

I like to listen to my iPod when I am travelling. I try to make sure that the sound does not leak (the first thing I did was scrap the rubbishy earphones that Apple supply). Just in case there is some leakage that I am oblivious to I avoid quiet coaches. On the odd journey when there is not much room anywhere else then I will use one (and turn the sound right down). It rarely makes much difference, though. If the train is that full, there will always be people who think that the world will end if they are off the phone for two minutes, quiet coach or no.

 

[Smudger105e]

When I used to commute Hove - Croydon and Clapham Junction late (late '80s early '90s) I was trying to sleep in a CIG, and there was a guy in the next bay with his music on his headphones very loud, so everyone could hear it. A gent in a suit tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he would turn it down a little, and the guy looked at him and just closed his eyes, not altering the volume at all.

The gent left, and I thought that he was going to get the Guard.

He reappeared a couple of minutes later with a pair of scissors in his hand, and proceeded to cut the headphone wire. Mr Music didn't know what to do, looking around at everyone in the crowded coach smiling at him!

 

[GNER 373]

there will always be people who think that the world will end if they are off the phone for two minutes, quiet coach or no.

This doesn't stop at the quiet coaches on a train, it's everywhere especially cinemas which REALLY p****s me off!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

When I used to commute Hove - Croydon and Clapham Junction late (late '80s early '90s) I was trying to sleep in a CIG, and there was a guy in the next bay with his music on his headphones very loud, so everyone could hear it. A gent in a suit tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he would turn it down a little, and the guy looked at him and just closed his eyes, not altering the volume at all.

The gent left, and I thought that he was going to get the Guard.

He reappeared a couple of minutes later with a pair of scissors in his hand, and proceeded to cut the headphone wire. Mr Music didn't know what to do, looking around at everyone in the crowded coach smiling at him!

Hahaha great story, made my day!

 

[fulshaw]

So is this kind of behaviour against any byelaws?

 

[rail-britain]

her abusive behaviour was quite clearly against railway bye-laws.

Which bye-law?

As far as I am aware Quiet Coach / Quiet Zone is simply a courtesy service and guideline, passengers can only be asked to leave the coach for failing to follow the guidelines
The same as those rowdy people that make noise throughout a film in a cinema

 

[amcluesent]

>The same as those rowdy people that make noise throughout a film in a cinema<

And doing 30 when it a 'Twenty's Plenty' zone

 

[Matt Taylor]

Bye-law 6(8) is handy for this:

"No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of
any person on the railway."


In terms of bye-laws the quiet zones are no different to any other part of the train.

 

[First class]

Bye-law 6(8) is handy for this:

"No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of
any person on the railway."


In terms of bye-laws the quiet zones are no different to any other part of the train.

Merseyrail uses Byelaw 7(1) for playing music on phones, you know the type, group of scallies with a rattly mobile phone speaker playing some US rapper. Results (usually) in a nice £50 administrative fee. If you REALLY wanted to be pedantic, (i.e. if it was contested in court), I imagine 7(3) would also be thrown in.

Uses Byelaw 6(8) for most other offences, i.e. feet on seats, being particularly inconsiderate in other matters etc etc...

 

[Matt Taylor]

Feet on seats comes under 'No person shall soil any part of the railway'.

 

[Turbocharger]

Thats what I meant, now you are being pedantic hahaha

Hehheheheh, nice one buddy like it

 

[First class]

Feet on seats comes under 'No person shall soil any part of the railway'.

We (at Merseyrail) use 6(8).

Merseyrail does not claim anyone soiled the railway, just that they prevented somebody from occupying that seat, therefore causing inconvenience to a person upon the railway, (the inspector/enforcement officer).

You would otherwise have to prove:

1) The seat was spotless beforehand
2) It was that person who soiled the railway

 

[O L Leigh]

Blimey...!! This must constitute some new form of extreme rail enthusiasm.

O L Leigh

 

[island]

Depending on the appearance of the noisy person I would either point out the quiet requirement myself or mention it to the guard. I have done both; most recently on an FGW HST on the way to Cardiff on a rugby weekend, when I asked the guard to tell four fans the way to coach B.

 

[valenta]

Depending on the appearance of the noisy person I would either point out the quiet requirement myself or mention it to the guard. I have done both; most recently on an FGW HST on the way to Cardiff on a rugby weekend, when I asked the guard to tell four fans the way to coach B.

Indeed, I was on a First Transpennine train quiet coach recently and the femal conductor told three men (who were drinking and making a general racket) to quieten down. I'mm glad she did as I didn't have the courage to approach them myself!

 

[ainsworth74]

Since when have TPE had a quiet coach?

 

[valenta]

Since when have TPE had a quiet coach?

Maybe I am mistaken...
It may have been XC?

 

[lookingforit35]

I very much believe that the Quiet Coach should be exactly that, as a nice quiet atmosphere can make a journey a pleasure (just my opinion, mind). And it's a pretty poor show when my fellow passengers dont have the courtesy to abide by the rules.

But when travelling on business my employer expects me to be contactable. I went to Winchester today - lovely clean smooth 444 - so of course did not sit in the SWT Quiet Zone. Nothing wrong elsewhere, except of course people seem to assume that this means they can shout, play music loudly, bray into mobiles etc as if consideration for others is a concept that doesnt exist. Not the end of the world I suppose, but hardly restful.

On the odd occassion that The Trainline and Virgin's mystery booking system conspires to put me in a Pendolino quiet carriage I always go to the vestibule to make/take calls.

 

[PhilipW]

On the Amtrak trains from New York to Washington, the 'Quiet' coach is just that. People both obey the rule and the Conductor will enforce it. The Conductor is regularly seen as he walks through the train many times during the journey. That's his job.

I had a very pleasant journey on an Acela Express between the two cities.

 

[brianthegiant]

Once I've calculated the teeth to tats ratio,
If a black look doesn't work, I generally mention to the noisy one that they have chosen to sit in the quiet zone. If its a mobile phone I mention that they can use the lobby, but people seem to struggle with that idea...

 

[12CSVT]

On the Amtrak trains from New York to Washington, the 'Quiet' coach is just that. People both obey the rule and the Conductor will enforce it. The Conductor is regularly seen as he walks through the train many times during the journey. That's his job.

I had a very pleasant journey on an Acela Express between the two cities.

Precisely how it should be. Cross Country, First Great Western, Virgin Trains, East Coast, etc please note.

 

[island]

Easy to run a service like that when everyone's paying big fares because you don't offer standard class!

 

[PhilipW]

Easy to run a service like that when everyone's paying big fares because you don't offer standard class!

I'm not sure that walking through your train frequently during the journey is difficult, irrespective of how much you pay for your ticket. Isn't checking the train to make sure all is fine part of the job ?

I am often amazed how little one sees staff walking through the train during a journey.

Once on one journey from Euston to Manchester, the only member of staff I saw on the whole journey was the 18-year old coming through collecting the rubbish.

 

[island]

Well, I suppose a bigger factor is that Amtrak is loss-making!

 

[amcluesent]

Amusing event in the quiet coach of the EC service to Lincoln last night. Mobi rings and a woman start yacking, asked to stop by a male pax. Another woman, reeking of booze, then goes off on one, effing and blinding to the bloke; she's then told in no uncertain terms to pipe down by several pax. I had to get off at PBO, but the atmosphere was still febrile.

 

[stanley T]

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.

On a Eurostar once the guy next to me was yacking on his phone for 15 mins - so I then politely asked him to carry on in the vestibule by the door (which fortunately was nearby). he looked surprised, but obliged. This was before quiet coaches. But then the yob/people ratio is probably a bit lower on Eurostar than most domestic trains. On the other hand, after suffering half an hour of inane gossip from a woman on a Southern train i asked her to pipe down or move, and when the stream of astonished outrage followed, no support from fellow pax who just looked away. Train wasn't full, so I moved, feeling angry for the rest of the journey.

It's an English disease to quietly grumble to oneself but not to complain directly for fear of "making a fuss". In a quiet coach I would not hesitate for an instant.

I thought there was a way of making reception on mobiles impossible by adding static screening? In which case it ought to be done in quiet coaches

 

[DarloRich]

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.

That is a good technique - i use it myself. I then proceed to the "excuse me sir are you aware this is the quiet coach and your phone call was a little bit loud" stage

Being large and northern is often enougth to get them to stop! If not i get the gaurd!

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Since when have TPE had a quiet coach?

Several years ago, I remember a chap was fined on transpennine for having his "Personal" stereo to loud, and refusing to turn it down.

The Record company paid the fine.

 

[exile]

I was asked to stop doing a quiz with my OH in a quiet coach. Just in a normal, conversational tone!

 

[ainsworth74]

Several years ago, I remember a chap was fined on transpennine for having his "Personal" stereo to loud, and refusing to turn it down.

That would be a byelaw offence rather than anything to do with a quiet coach:

6. Unacceptable behaviour

(1) No person shall use any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language
on the railway.
(2) No person shall behave in a disorderly, indecent or offensive manner on the
railway.
(3) No person shall write, draw, paint or fix anything on the railway.
(4) No person shall soil any part of the railway.
(5) No person shall damage or detach any part of the railway.
(6) No person shall spit on the railway.
(7) No person shall drop litter or leave waste on the railway.
(8) No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of
any person on the railway.

Source

 

[Bungle73]

I was asked to stop doing a quiz with my OH in a quiet coach. Just in a normal, conversational tone!

You're supposed to speak quietly in the quiet coach.