Quieter Coach Conundrum

[Bletchleyite]

But the other thing is, what's going on with these speaker calls? Why do people do it anyway? What's the advantage of holding the phone a few inches from your ear?

I think calls on WhatsApp, Messenger etc are speaker by default.

 

[styles]

This solution was proposed way back in 2008 but I don't know if it was ever implemented.

BBC NEWS | England | Train company 'may block mobiles'

news.bbc.co.uk

Surely with the technology we now have there must be a way of blocking mobile phone signals in certain parts of a train?

Would never work practically speaking.

I often book quiet coaches when I have some work to do and want to concentrate but don't feel the 1st class (which is usually a reasonable level of noise) premium is worth it. I'm sure many others are the same.

Even people who don't want to work may need to load up their Railcards/tickets, check connection times, or send the occasional WhatsApp etc.

If we were to do this it would have to be a tiny part of the train and people accept they need to go to the vestibule to send texts etc, and even then that will result in the door being constantly opened and closed.

After all that, it wouldn't actually block out noise for people who have videos and music etc downloaded offline.

 

[Elon Bust]

I think calls on WhatsApp, Messenger etc are speaker by default.

They're not. I have WhatsApp.

 

[Robin Edwards]

My last seat booking in the 'quiet' coach resulted in two hours of the loudest snoring from a very portly gentleman slouched in the opposite table seats. The fabric of the coach vibrated until at last he spluttered into life instinctively, just as the train arrived at his destination.
If I'd had a taser - I could have livened him up in advance!

 

[DarloRich]

But the other thing is, what's going on with these speaker calls? Why do people do it anyway? What's the advantage of holding the phone a few inches from your ear?

potato people copying what they have seen on the Apprentice and other silly shows. Another tasering offence in my book.

 

[sh24]

I think calls on WhatsApp, Messenger etc are speaker by default.

On an iPhone, 100% not. The default is normal phone mode and you actively have to select speaker. So it is just rank ignorance.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Great shame they won't let you taser anyone making noise in the quiet coach. or at least confiscate their devices.

And crush them

 

[saismee]

GenZ

I'm in this category

sadly seem to think it's acceptable provided it's not above conversational volume

...but not this one. I would never play any audio out loud on a busy train unless it's an urgent phone call (thankfully that's never happened). I have made one or two phone calls while on a train but I always try to find an emptier coach (fewer than 3 people) and I'm practically whispering. My go-to for train journeys is music in one earbud, minimum volume, and staring out the window. If I forget my earbuds (have done a few times) then it's silent staring... I wouldn't dare play music out loud even if I'm not in the quiet coach.

I do agree that Gen Z tend to be louder and more anti-social, but it extends to other things a lot more than just music. To name a few:
Feet on seats
Legs in the aisles
Bikes in vestibules (there's a bike compartment for a reason)
Sitting on tipup vestibule seats and then not moving to let people on/off the train
Riding bikes on platforms/in stations

Bearing in mind that these aren't Gen Z-exclusive, and I have seen people from any generation doing this (except much older people who tend to have calm, quiet conversations).

I had a young couple, probably about my age, come up to me at the barriers and ask to be let "frew" to get a train because they were driving and the road was closed. No, they didn't have tickets. I don't know what they were expecting... does a road closure entitle you to free train travel?

Headphone noise bleed is annoying but indeed the listener usually isn't aware of it, though if it's pointed out in a quiet coach the only correct recourse is to turn it down so it's no longer audible, and escalating to violence isn't really acceptable conduct.

Headphone/earbud bleed is one of my biggest concerns with listening to music on the train. I don't get how people can blast music loud enough to stop them from hearing anything without considering that others could hear it too. I once had someone in my class sit next to me with his earbuds sitting on the edge of his ears (they were the kind that wrapped around the back of the ear so they don't come out easily) and had his music on fully full volume so I could hear it over my own music. Not a fun time.

There is a 'character' well known in my area who does just that on his mountain bike as he rides at walking pace around the town with music blaring!

Unfortunately most places I've been to have their own local version of that "character". A bus station in King's Lynn comes to mind first as he was sitting on his bike blaring music loud enough to stop my conversation. The bus arrived 15 minutes later and he THANKFULLY was not on it.

But having said that, I don't expect staff to put themselves in a situation where they could potentially get assaulted. If we had security staff who had the right to take a much more robust approach towards this behaviour (e.g. fines/allowed to physically remove and/or detain offenders) they might take rules more seriously.

I'm thinking something along the lines of RPIs with more physical contact. Plain clothes, hanging around areas known for fare evasion (Stratford maybe), and ready to grab anyone that pushes. Immediate report for prosecution (pushing the barriers is a crime on its own and could likely be considered property damage) with no chance for a settlement. Pushing barriers is proof of intent, you can't "accidentally slip and fall" through one.

 

[stuu]

I think calls on WhatsApp, Messenger etc are speaker by default.

Definitely not, on android or iPhone.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Noise/vaping/ASB has become a major issue, IMHO. It was there pre-Covid, but now does seem to be more prevalent. For those thinking that 'it's better in First Class', the times I am there it can be often as bad. The idea of doing (chairing?) a meeting on a train using Teams/Zoom has taken hold and is rarely a quiet activity.

Perhaps the train companies could now press to create an enhanced security staff who, once trained and accredited, could be given the statutory power to enforce rules eg. by fines and by removal from trains? BTP rarely have the resources nor, often, do they really regard as their role any more. Unless there is some meaningful threat of adverse consequences, many of those currently causing major ASB issues will doubtless just keep on doing it. The current TV programme on revenue enforcement on SWR shows very clearly the limits of the current powers that rail staff have.

More cost, yes, but if this topic is not take more seriously there will be fewer passengers in future!

 

[185]

Chiltern's old suggestion wouldn't work nowadays, as if the GSM signal is blocked, the train would probably still be providing wi-fi to that coach. Interesting idea, but would require no data and no wifi. Coach C is the Buffet. Coach U is the unreserved. Coach X is the Faraday Cage.

And crush them

I agree. It's a bit harsh, but yes, flatten the phone users. (*see the end of A Fish Called Wanda)

 

[Elon Bust]

Noise/vaping/ASB has become a major issue, IMHO. It was there pre-Covid, but now does seem to be more prevalent. For those thinking that 'it's better in First Class', the times I am there it can be often as bad. The idea of doing (chairing?) a meeting on a train using Teams/Zoom has taken hold and is rarely a quiet activity.

Perhaps the train companies could now press to create an enhanced security staff who, once trained and accredited, could be given the statutory power to enforce rules eg. by fines and by removal from trains? BTP rarely have the resources nor, often, do they really regard as their role any more. Unless there is some meaningful threat of adverse consequences, many of those currently causing major ASB issues will doubtless just keep on doing it. The current TV programme on revenue enforcement on SWR shows very clearly the limits of the current powers that rail staff have.

More cost, yes, but if this topic is not take more seriously there will be fewer passengers in future!

It's that simple, I'm afraid. To create a cultural change would be a long, difficult process starting with consequences for bad behaviour.

What's depressing is, all I'm asking for is the train journey experience to be how it was in about 2010. That's all I'm asking.

 

[sh24]

I have seen plenty of people from all generations using their phone on speaker, it's not just a Gen Z issue. Almost got punched in the face when I nicely asked a 60-something gentleman not to FaceTime a friend. This was in a restaurant, at dinner time, with plenty of other people present.

 

[43066]

I have seen plenty of people from all generations using their phone on speaker, it's not just a Gen Z issue. Almost got punched in the face when I nicely asked a 60-something gentleman not to FaceTime a friend. This was in a restaurant, at dinner time, with plenty of other people present.

Agree with this. In fact the recent offenders I’ve encountered have been middle aged. It definitely isn’t a young person specific issue in my experience.

 

[Elon Bust]

potato people copying what they have seen on the Apprentice and other silly shows. Another tasering offence in my book.

You're not the first person to mention this in relation to speakerphone calls. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think you're right. The Apprentice made speakerphone calls seem cool, and people copied it.

The whole thing is so stupid but perhaps it's a way of establishing dominance and showing off in public.

 

[Trainman40083]

I thought there was a railway by-law covering it. 4, 7? Somewhere round there.. I was on a train between Derby and Crewe one day. A lad opposite answered his phone. It was his employer and he said "I'm sorry, I am too ill to come in today". He didn't look ill. At that moment the very loud pa came on "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now arriving in Stoke on Trent". I would have thought his boss would have heard that announcement.

 

[DarloRich]

You're not the first person to mention this in relation to speakerphone calls. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think you're right. The Apprentice made speakerphone calls seem cool, and people copied it.

The whole thing is so stupid but perhaps it's a way of establishing dominance and showing off in public.

putting a call on speaker is really helpful at home when you are washing up or something but in public it is a no no!

 

[AndrewP]

putting a call on speaker is really helpful at home when you are washing up or something but in public it is a no no!

I wish everyone had good manners like this

 

[godfreycomplex]

Signal blocking in a coach is never going to happen, I’m afraid. It was briefly considered, but if a member of train crew needs to contact the signaller/anyone else in an emergency they need A - signal to be able to do that and B - need to be able to do that then and there.

I know not everywhere has signal but the railway can’t be blocking what signal is there out for ultimately frivolous reasons when it is there and may be needed.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

My last seat booking in the 'quiet' coach resulted in two hours of the loudest snoring from a very portly gentleman slouched in the opposite table seats. The fabric of the coach vibrated until at last he spluttered into life instinctively, just as the train arrived at his destination.
If I'd had a taser - I could have livened him up in advance!

Don't tell me: he turned out to be the guard!

 

[AlterEgo]

Signal blocking in a coach is never going to happen, I’m afraid. It was briefly considered, but if a member of train crew needs to contact the signaller in an emergency they need A - signal to be able to do that and B - need to be able to do that then and there.

I know not everywhere has signal but the railway can’t be blocking what signal is there out for ultimately frivolous reasons when it is there and may be needed.

Not to mention that deliberately interfering with mobile phone signals is illegal.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Not to mention that deliberately interfering with mobile phone signals is illegal.

Interesting

 

[Lewisham2221]

You're not the first person to mention this in relation to speakerphone calls. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think you're right. The Apprentice made speakerphone calls seem cool, and people copied it.

The whole thing is so stupid but perhaps it's a way of establishing dominance and showing off in public.

I don't buy it. I certainly don't have most of the culprits down as avid fans of The Apprentice.

 

[bramling]

I don't buy it. I certainly don't have most of the culprits down as avid fans of The Apprentice.

There’s a more general thing as to why so many people have such appalling levels of self-awareness, and whether that has got worse over time. Frankly the lack of awareness exhibited by some people I find utterly astounding.

There definitely seems to be a very specific issue with those currently in their late teens / early 20s, which one presumes is almost certainly a consequence of the Covid response.

 

[stuu]

Not to mention that deliberately interfering with mobile phone signals is illegal.

Only actively like using a jammer, there's nothing illegal about building a vehicle that blocks signals

 

[43066]

I thought there was a railway by-law covering it. 4, 7? Somewhere round there.. I was on a train between Derby and Crewe one day. A lad opposite answered his phone. It was his employer and he said "I'm sorry, I am too ill to come in today". He didn't look ill. At that moment the very loud pa came on "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now arriving in Stoke on Trent". I would have thought his boss would have heard that announcement.

There are bylaws covering all sorts of things, but they’re virtually unenforceable in most situations.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Don't tell me: he turned out to be the guard!

I have seen staff in uniform using mobile phones out loud on speaker for various purposes. I'm getting very close to starting to report it if I can identify those staff (pointless otherwise); it isn't in any way acceptable for staff to be breaching the Railway Byelaws while in uniform, regardless of whether the public generally respect that Byelaw or not. It sits for me rather alongside Police cars parked illegally for no good reason, e.g. just to pop into a shop when the car could be parked legally and correctly instead.

It's mostly Network Rail staff, cleaners and the likes rather than train crew, but it's still not at all acceptable whoever it is to be breaching Byelaws while in uniform; it brings the employer into disrepute which is gross misconduct with most companies. Staff smoking/vaping on stations and trains in uniform wouldn't be tolerated, and personally I find polluting my ears with electronic noise far more annoying than someone smoking far enough away on an outdoor platform that I can't breathe it, or indeed smoking anything anywhere on Birmingham New St when a Voyager is there filling the place with thick diesel fug anyway.

 

[43066]

Staff smoking/vaping on stations and trains in uniform wouldn't be tolerated

You’d be surprised!

 

[Deepgreen]

I think calls on WhatsApp, Messenger etc are speaker by default.

No - I have Android and can use buds with WA with no problem.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2025 ==

There are two reasons I now (unfortunately) consider it essential for my mental health for me to use ear buds on trains - other peoples' noise and the p.a.!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2025 ==

Not to mention that deliberately interfering with mobile phone signals is illegal.

Unless approved specifically.

 

[saismee]

I think blocking signal kind of defeats the purpose of 61016 and all of those announcements...

People also can easily download shows or music to play, which is ideal when on a train with poor signal.