Minor things on trains which irritate you

[Bletchleyite]

Lack of refreshment trolleys !

Claims there is a trolley when it is decidedly mythical or has no tea. GWR, yes, you.

 

[py_megapixel]

Bikes on any part of the train

This is a slightly odd take, considering almost all trains have bicycle spaces where the bikes are tucked well out of the way, and they're either in places that wouldn't be any use for anything else or are allowed to be used for other purposes when there's no bicycle in them.

 

[yorksrob]

Claims there is a trolley when it is decidedly mythical or has no tea. GWR, yes, you.

Yes, tea and hot drinks are vital.

 

[43096]

That’s the sound of the pan discharging after entering a neutral section. It’s on all OHLE-equipped stock and you can hear it on 390s as well, for example.

It’s the vacuum circuit breaker, isn’t it?

 

[Anonymous10]

Window size and overhead luggage storage. If it cant even fit a small backpack why bother?

 

[xotGD]

To which I would add:
Sinks which have no water but you didn't know that when you rubbed soap all over your hands

After learning the hard way, I always check the tap before soaping up!

 

[800001]

It’s the vacuum circuit breaker, isn’t it?

Yes, it is. Hitachi engineer confirmed it to me when I jumped at the noise.

 

[AlterEgo]

It’s the vacuum circuit breaker, isn’t it?

That's the doodah, yes. Couldn't remember the name.

 

[Bletchleyite]

After learning the hard way, I always check the tap before soaping up!

Not sure why people wouldn't wet their hands before soaping anyway if they want a decent lather?

 

[Parallel]

Oh, I should also add -> Neil Rudd and Matt Streetton’s voices, and that awful cringey man who does safety announcements on SouthEastern.

I don’t find Neil too bad but Matt now announces ‘If you see somethink that doesn’t look right’ on Thameslink’s trains which is a bit grating.
———

For me the most annoying thing is when you get on a unit that’s just started its journey and it’s filthy/has rubbish over the tables and seats. Although it isn’t feasible to clean trains at all termini, it just gives the impression that the TOC doesn’t care.

I also find the sound of the aircon clicking on and off every 5 seconds/hissing on some 175 units in summer annoying and quite distracting on what can be a peaceful journey on the Marches, but better than not working I suppose.

 

[Melancholia]

Reading lights being left on when not in use

Class 800/802s sometimes taking ages for doors to be released

Pointless announcements, e.g. automated announcements followed by a manual announcement with the same information, for whatever reason (hopefully soon to be sorted)

 

[yorksrob]

When you're having a pee and the toilet seat falls down half way through.

How long have magnets been a thing ?

 

[davart]

It's not just washbasins. It's loads of stuff, and it's because people automatically think "disabled=wheelchair" and don't consider the far more common case of "walking wounded" e.g. elderly people. This might well be because the wheelchair lobby is very strong, while the lobby for minor disabilities in elderly people etc is very weak.

On most TVMs I cannot, while standing, read the screen on the card machine, because the TVM body sticks out above it.

The worst such design is GWR's new large screen machines at Paddington, which must be great for a wheelchair user, but I can't use the card machine without squatting/kneeling on the floor, as it is roughly at my knee height. The result of this is that if I had bad knees or a broken leg I would be completely unable to use the machines.

There really needs to be a lot more made of these atrocious design issues. It's not hard to design for both cases, you just need to angle screens upwards slightly and ensure that there's a "cut in" so you can see down onto it from any height, and to position important elements vertically such that they are in reach of both a wheelchair user (near their head height) and a standing person of up to about 7' tall (near their waist).

The card reader is in a similarly poor position on the Northern TVMs. I'm only 5'8" and have to duck down to see the card reader.

No reason why the screens and card readers shouldn't be able to pivot or slide up/down on a stanchion. Technology has improved where screens are lightweight and slim profile.

Why are TVMs still encased in such large metals housings, especially in indoor settings? Visibility or security perhaps?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Trains without even a small shelf to put a coffee cup down meaning that the bloke about to sit next to me has to juggle with his as he tries to put his coat and bag on the luggage rack whilst saying sorry mate as he delivers me a hot coffee fragranced shower. 350/2 a few years ago, but the memory lingers on!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Trains without even a small shelf to put a coffee cup down meaning that the bloke about to sit next to me has to juggle with his as he tries to put his coat and bag on the luggage rack whilst saying sorry mate as he delivers me a hot coffee fragranced shower. 350/2 a few years ago, but the memory lingers on!

Yeah, not fitting fold down tables to 350/2s when the almost-identical 450s have them was just penny pinching.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Yeah, not fitting fold down tables to 350/2s when the almost-identical 450s have them was just penny pinching.

Actually the whole set up of the 350/2s seemed to me to be entirely composed of penny pinching.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Whilst on the subject of washbasins, why is every hand dryer on a train so poor at doing its job? They either have no heat and little airflow or just little airflow. It’s as if there’s an asthmatic ant blowing through a straw onto your hands.

As part of the refurb for Wrexham & Shropshire, the (now) Chiltern Mk3s were fitted with Dyson Airblades. The "washbasins" are awful though, as they're basically a slight recess in a flat moulding.

Have to admit chiltern railways mk3 coaches the silver plug door sets do squeak very loud between the driving van trailer and the business zone.
And just as loud between the mk3 coaches ie mk3 coach to mk3 coach especially inside the train.

The issue there (at least between carriages) is that someone thought it would be a good idea to remove the luggage stacks and saloon doors to cram more seats in (which also don't match the IC70s in the rest of the coach) and replace the gangway doors with power doors similar to those on the 168s. Net result: No soundproofing between the saloon and the vestibule.

 

[dk1]

When you're having a pee and the toilet seat falls down half way through.

How long have magnets been a thing ?

I’d forgotten about that lol. All the Stadler fleet are fitted with the ‘slow drop’ variety so that familiar sound is no more this way.

 

[py_megapixel]

Why are TVMs still encased in such large metals housings, especially in indoor settings? Visibility or security perhaps?

I would assume it's for resistance to vandalism.

That's because for some reason, "door ordering" is still a foreign concept around these parts. One press of the button any time on approach should be enough for it to light up and for the correct door to be opened at the next station, even if the button originally pressed was on the wrong side.

A lot of trams do this, even in this country.
Additionally the HS2 stock specification contains a stipulation that a door must open if the button is held down when the door is released (though no mention of 'door ordering')

 

[xotGD]

Net result: No soundproofing between the saloon and the vestibule.

That is a feature not a bug. Makes it easier to hear the 68 thrashing away.

 

[uvarvu]

Another vote for the vacuum circuit breakers. I also don’t like poorly insulated circuitry that prevents you from using your phone when it’s plugged into a power socket by your seat.

 

[fairysdad]

This is really minor but really does bug me... on SWRs 455s, the PIS display in the carriages scroll with the italics going the wrong way.

 

[D821]

This is really minor but really does bug me... on SWRs 455s, the PIS display in the carriages scroll with the italics going the wrong way.

I've never been on a 455 but just reading that has annoyed me!

 

[150249]

People thinking that sending almost all the 142s to Northern is a good idea.

Also, 150/1s being way worse than 150/2s

 

[trainmania100]

Rediculously fast automated pis tannoy on the south west trains units (if it still exists),

This train is for weymoutthe next station is Basingstoke
The next station is portsmout and southseathis train is for London Waterloo
Etc

 

[Blindtraveler]

Class 334 automated announcements and their constant overuse of up infections making everything sound like a question. The original batch of IET units power sockets making your phone touch screen go wild and therefore unusable. The lumo ones are fine. Ironing board seats on any unit.

 

[Mrwerdna1]

Many if not most of these points have been mentioned so far, but here goes:

For longer journeys:

• no seat-back tables
• no power sockets
• rock-hard seats & bad seat design
• seats so close to the wall or leg-room so poor you have to sit almost sideways
• misaligned seats (windowless "window seats" and more)
• no cafeteria or trolley service (yes, even considering the extortionate prices)
• horribly bright lighting
• constantly opening & closing, or entirely broken interior doors (this, along with frequent squeaking noises was my only gripe with FGW/GWR's HSTs. Lack of underfloor engines made them reasonably quiet in theory, but with the doors to the gangway constantly open, part of this advantage was quickly lost)
• rattling side panels (or any loosely fitted panels that rattle at speed)
• bad suspension
• flat spots or other strong vibrations
• dirty windows

For short journeys:

• lack of standing areas or too little longitudinal seating
• narrow gangways and aisle
• too few doors
• suitcases or other bulky items in the aisle / blocking access to the doors

Generally annoying:

• unnecessarily large gaps between sentences of the same automatic announcement (makes me think: ah, they're finally done... oh no... 'twas just a slight pause)
• broken PIS
• faulty door, but not marked as such
• doors opening and closing several times at the same station, always with same "beep beep beep" noise accompanying the motion
• train crawling along at 5mph due to a hold-up or red signal, then nonetheless coming to a full stop (perfectly reasonable of course, but still annoying)
  • train slowing down when approaching the station, but coming to full stop just outside it, then briefly accelerating once more to pull into the platform
• air-conditioned trains with openable windows (that are frequently left open by passengers, leading to an unpleasant draught)
• crooked or partially peeled off stickers

 

[Parallel]

Class 334 automated announcements and their constant overuse of up infections making everything sound like a question.

I think this is a common problem with Alstom units - The TfW 175s go to Manchester PiccaDILLY? and the Grand Central 180s run to London King's CROSS? They must've uploaded the inflections the wrong way around because downwards ones also feature on board!

 

[Clansman]

A minor one for me but still a bit aesthetically annoying...

Pantographs being situated over seating, resulting in lower roof and luggage space and generally just a dingey environment.

The 350s/380s have the right design. Just shove the big toilet underneath them. Shame the same can't be said for the 385s.

Additionally it always bugged me why modern units are narrower than their predecessors or have tapering bodies. Is it a safety thing for crash worthiness? Going from narrow 170s and 800s to 150s is night and day for spaciousness despite all having underfloor engines (unless 150s would feel narrower with higher floors if fitted with uprated engines?).

 

[Mikey C]

On commuter trains, large empty areas for standing or wheelchair/pushchairs/bicycles etc, with hardly any grab handles or straps to hold onto.

I first noticed this on the DLR in the late 90s which was rammed before the Jubilee Line opened, as so often you'd be standing with nothing to hold onto at all, something thankfully rectified in later interiors. The 376s continued this, with a large empty area which is just a waste of space as the limiting factor for "real world" capacity is the number of grab poles.

South Eastern Trains Display Class 376

And what is the point of this 2+1 section on the 707s?