Minor things on trains which irritate you

[yorksrob]

The loading gauge comes from the fact that we were first, and initially three stagecoach bodies on a flat wagon was seen as what was needed.

Mk1s are not actually as wide as they could be because the doorhandles protrude. But modern stock is generally narrower because longer vehicles need to be narrower. That said, the Class 444 is I think the narrowest UK passenger stock at 2.68m, but in my view one of the most comfortable.

The Hastings DEMU vehicle bodies are 2.44m wide (and also have very comfortable seating).

 

[modernrail]

Southern's parent also runs the Gatwick Express, which is much more expensive, so they have no incentive to provide luggage space on the Southern trains that stop at Gatwick.


I'd counter that there is also far too much noise on lots of diesel trains!


By the statement that the seats on Pendolinos are "perfectly good", I can tell you don't have particularly long legs.

This is true. I will give you that. Still very sad to see all those perfectly serviceable seats thrown away through. Such a waste, should have just got it right in the first place.

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is true. I will give you that. Still very sad to see all those perfectly serviceable seats thrown away through. Such a waste, should have just got it right in the first place.

The seats were quite advanced for their time - this is the same era when near all were thick backed - the era of the OK but dated looking Chapman and the beyond awful Richmond.

 

[modernrail]

The loading gauge comes from the fact that we were first, and initially three stagecoach bodies on a flat wagon was seen as what was needed.

Mk1s are not actually as wide as they could be because the doorhandles protrude. But modern stock is generally narrower because longer vehicles need to be narrower. That said, the Class 444 is I think the narrowest UK passenger stock at 2.68m, but in my view one of the most comfortable.

That is really interesting. Do you have any idea why other countries spotted that would not be enough so quickly bearing in mind their road transport was pretty much the same as ours and so their comparison the same? Railways sprouted up all over the place very quickly once the whole thing got going and I am assuming some sort of conscious decision was taken on the Continent? I literally ask myself this question every time I am on a train in Europe, for instance St Anton to Innsbruck the other week.

Also I don’t quite get why longer vehicles need to be narrower. Forgive my ignorance. Is it a structural integrity thing?

 

[py_megapixel]

Also I don’t quite get why longer vehicles need to be narrower. Forgive my ignorance. Is it a structural integrity thing?

I would assume it's because longer vehicles will swing out further on curves, and if they weren't narrower to compensate for this then they would collide with curved platforms and other such infrastructure.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would assume it's because longer vehicles will swing out further on curves, and if they weren't narrower to compensate for this then they would collide with curved platforms and other such infrastructure.

Yes, it's that.

I guess the other thing about many northern European countries is that they are flatter than the UK and so tunnels etc were less of a consideration. Also they cared less about accessibility, so platforms were universally at track level, so nothing to clout there either.

 

[Pigeon]

So were ours in the early days. Building anything more than a brick or two in height came along later.

 

[Grannyjoans]

The noisy screaching brakes on the Class 800/801/802 series

 

[Parallel]

One thing I’ve noticed that’s becoming more popular is people blaring random stuff out their phone’s loudspeaker on trains - Just like TiKTok videos or Instagram stories. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much if someone’s watching a film out loud or if they’re having a call but the constant changes in music or people shouting/sounds with no obvious context I find quite hard to zone out from. I never do it and always use earphones if when using such sites.

 

[modernrail]

Yes, it's that.

I guess the other thing about many northern European countries is that they are flatter than the UK and so tunnels etc were less of a consideration. Also they cared less about accessibility, so platforms were universally at track level, so nothing to clout there either.

Found the answer. Some European countries saw the benefit of a larger gauge and got together with the ones that had built smaller at the beginning of the last century to agree a common standard larger gauge. Those countries that had built smaller (largely France) agreed to build bigger.

Our platform height would prohibit use of the gauge but the main determining factor is that we didn’t upgrade our tunnels, bridges etc as the French did. That must have been quite a cost!

And so the minor irritation of 3+2 seating that denies the reality of the size of the human body and consequent aisle leg jumping/knocking became baked into our systematic .

Our loading gauge has also restricted the ISO size of containers globally, so quite a knock on consequence!

 

[Jimini]

One thing I’ve noticed that’s becoming more popular is people blaring random stuff out their phone’s loudspeaker on trains - Just like TiKTok videos or Instagram stories. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much if someone’s watching a film out loud or if they’re having a call but the constant changes in music or people shouting/sounds with no obvious context I find quite hard to zone out from. I never do it and always use earphones if when using such sites.

There seems to be a growing trend of parents just giving their child their phone / tablet to keep them amused on journeys, which can get somewhat irritating. I had to endure Peppa Pig for 90 mins from the table across the aisle from me on an Avanti service last weekend.

 

[Mat17]

What would be great would be a mobile phone blocking device... 'phones don't work in the carriage' - it'd be the quietest carriage on the train!

 

[py_megapixel]

One thing I’ve noticed that’s becoming more popular is people blaring random stuff out their phone’s loudspeaker on trains - Just like TiKTok videos or Instagram stories. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much if someone’s watching a film out loud or if they’re having a call but the constant changes in music or people shouting/sounds with no obvious context I find quite hard to zone out from. I never do it and always use earphones if when using such sites.

I was stood waiting for a bus on Thursday and someone standing next to me was watching TikTok videos of people simply screaming with no context, on their phone, using the speakers (no headphones). Apparently some people find that entertaining....(?)

I don't know why they were doing this, nor why they thought it was acceptable to play recordings of people screaming loudly, without the consideration to use headphones or even to turn the volume down, at a crowded bus terminus.

 

[trebor79]

What would be great would be a mobile phone blocking device... 'phones don't work in the carriage' - it'd be the quietest carriage on the train!

Such devices exist and can be purchased, though it is illegal to actually use them.
Might not stop people with stuff downloaded already - need an EMP pulse to stop them!

 

[modernrail]

Such devices exist and can be purchased, though it is illegal to actually use them.
Might not stop people with stuff downloaded already - need an EMP pulse to stop them!

Or just some stickers and announcements! There is no need to stop perfectly sensible use of most because of the total lack of manners of a few.

There is little that irritates me more than this minor irritation and it needs stamping out. I can’t decide whether the noise or the display of rude exceptionalism that annoys me more.

I regularly move carriages if somebody starts this one up and I have offered people my headphones before to make the point.

 

[trebor79]

Or just some stickers and announcements! There is no need to stop perfectly sensible use of most because of the total lack of manners of a few.

There is little that irritates me more than this minor irritation and it needs stamping out. I can’t decide whether the noise or the display of rude exceptionalism that annoys me more.

I regularly move carriages if somebody starts this one up and I have offered people my headphones before to make the point.

Some people are utterly clueless.
I remember many years ago being sat in the quiet coach on an ECML service. Lady sat behind me taps me on the shoulder and asks if I mind her making some phone calls? Actually yes, I do - go into the vestibule or another coach to do that - a couple of other people said similar.
"Oh I can't do that, I'm doing telephone interviews and I need somewhere quiet".
We were then subjected to 10 minutes of banality with her first interviewee. I was seriously considering snatching her phone and tossing it out of the droplight, but fortunately my stop wasn't far away and I managed to contain myself.

 

[LowLevel]

One thing I’ve noticed that’s becoming more popular is people blaring random stuff out their phone’s loudspeaker on trains - Just like TiKTok videos or Instagram stories. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much if someone’s watching a film out loud or if they’re having a call but the constant changes in music or people shouting/sounds with no obvious context I find quite hard to zone out from. I never do it and always use earphones if when using such sites.

Sadly the persistence of unintelligent, inpolite boors seems unlikely to clear up - it has been a thing since portable devices with speakers were invented. Should be a capital offence. It drives me nuts.

 

[spotify95]

What would be great would be a mobile phone blocking device... 'phones don't work in the carriage' - it'd be the quietest carriage on the train!

Jump on board any Class 22x then - though you'll still have local playback of files to contend with..

Maybe people should just use earphones if they need to play any audio?

 

[Grannyjoans]

What else annoys me above all else ?

Auto announcers everywhere on trains and stations

Noisy, screeching brakes on newer trains

The strange noises made by many modern EMU's during acceleration and regenerative braking

And even freight depots aren't free from annoying noises. You get the never ending yinging of class 66's instead.

Ugly grey galvanised steel spiked fencing everywhere, with even more of it going up




The railway has lost almost all of it's atmosphere

 

[trebor79]

Ugly grey galvanised steel spiked fencing everywhere, with even more of it going up

Yes, last time I travelled the southern part of the ECML I was struck (and appalled) at the mile upon mile of the stuff, and unbroken chain for tens of miles, including through open countryside. Horrible.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Whoever the manual announcer was at Bristol tonight, shouting his head off down the tannoy, was unbearable. Sounded like a ten year old trainspotter who was given the chance to make an announcement by kind rail staff.
“BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS, THIS IS BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS, WELCOME TO PLATFORM 14”

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Sounded like a ten year old trainspotter who was given the chance to make an announcement by kind rail staff.

(For clarity, it was a member of staff)

 

[158747]

Whoever the manual announcer was at Bristol tonight, shouting his head off down the tannoy, was unbearable. Sounded like a ten year old trainspotter who was given the chance to make an announcement by kind rail staff.
“BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS, THIS IS BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS, WELCOME TO PLATFORM 14”

Probably was a trainspotter, as there is no platform 14 at Bristol Temple Meads!

 

[Grannyjoans]

Surely a Trainspotter would know that ?

 

[supervc-10]

Inability to agree on an easy to use/check locking system on disabled toilets.

This is one thing I really like about the Hitachi units - big chunky handle that you flip from unlocked to locked. Nice and simple, and easily used by anyone including those with reduced dexterity.

Regarding carriage width- the 444 proves that it's not too much of an issue if the interior is laid out properly - IE 2x2, for an intercity train. The 720s by all accounts though, not so much. Also narrow as long cars, but with 3x2 squeezed in. I understand the reasoning (more seats in and out of Liverpool Street at the peaks) but I don't think it's valid reasoning. A Thameslink style 2x2 with wide aisles would be better IMO.

 

[RobDaglish]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but people watching films with sound on. There are a few parents who think it's acceptable to allow their children to watch a film on a device and subject the rest of the carriage to it.

There seems to be a growing trend of parents just giving their child their phone / tablet to keep them amused on journeys, which can get somewhat irritating. I had to endure Peppa Pig for 90 mins from the table across the aisle from me on an Avanti service last weekend.

Ahem… I have indeed committed this crime recently. In my defence, your honour, I booked my tickets the day they were released, but Avanti were unable to provide me with any seat reservations where I was able to sit anywhere near my 5,7 and 9 year old children, and no amount of persuasion would convince them that sitting said children next to random strangers is a safeguarding issue…

Passengers with reservations tend to be resistant to moving for any reason, even when the situation is explained and they are asked politely, so the kids all got an iPad as noisy as possible in the hope that we’d eventually be able to sit near the kids.

P.S. it didn’t work. Except in the case of the 5 year old, and that was mainly as she’d chatted to the guy sat next to her solidly for about 90 minutes before he gave in and moved elsewhere.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ahem… I have indeed committed this crime recently. In my defence, your honour, I booked my tickets the day they were released, but Avanti were unable to provide me with any seat reservations where I was able to sit anywhere near my 5,7 and 9 year old children, and no amount of persuasion would convince them that sitting said children next to random strangers is a safeguarding issue…

Because it really isn't. There isn't a bogeyman on every street corner, you know?

Passengers with reservations tend to be resistant to moving for any reason, even when the situation is explained and they are asked politely, so the kids all got an iPad as noisy as possible in the hope that we’d eventually be able to sit near the kids.

Outrageous and self-entitled behaviour.

P.S. it didn’t work. Except in the case of the 5 year old, and that was mainly as she’d chatted to the guy sat next to her solidly for about 90 minutes before he gave in and moved elsewhere.

I'm glad it did not work. I suggest you get a car if you intend to behave in that manner in public for your personal gain and impress on your children that that is in any way acceptable.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Because it really isn't. There isn't a bogeyman on every street corner, you know?



Outrageous and self-entitled behaviour.



I'm glad it did not work. I suggest you get a car if you intend to behave in that manner in public for your personal gain and impress on your children that that is in any way acceptable.

That’s a bit harsh to a new member,a real welcome to the forum!
The trouble with children is that unless they’re entertained in some way they become more irritating to others so watching an iPad is probably better than having them running around and shouting/screaming etc.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That’s a bit harsh to a new member,a real welcome to the forum!

I did notice that. I wonder if they joined the forum to troll, but certainly I will not give any time to anyone, whether on their first post or 10,000th, who believes that deliberately annoying other passengers in order to get what they want is in any way acceptable, because it isn't.

I quote again:

Passengers with reservations tend to be resistant to moving for any reason, even when the situation is explained and they are asked politely, so the kids all got an iPad as noisy as possible in the hope that we’d eventually be able to sit near the kids.

This is utterly inexcusable and unacceptable self-entitled, selfish behaviour. If the OP feels that way they should travel exclusively by car.

If you want others to move, you ask nicely. Or you approach traincrew, who may help. You absolutely do not act in breach of a Railway Byelaw to the deliberate annoyance of others in the hope that they move. Ever.

The trouble with children is that unless they’re entertained in some way they become more irritating to others so watching an iPad is probably better than having them running around and shouting/screaming etc.

No excuse. Simply use headphones. If you can afford an iPad you can probably afford fancy ones, but if not they can be had for about £5 on eBay or Amazon. You simply do not play devices out loud in public, end of.

What the OP did is a Byelaw breach (or would be if I were on that train, as it would 100% guaranteed be "to my annoyance"). It needs prosecuting, not excusing.

 

[Ashley Hill]

What the OP did is a Byelaw breach (or would be if I were on that train, as it would 100% guaranteed be "to my annoyance"). It needs prosecuting, not excusing.

And I’m sure you’ll all enjoy your day in court