Rules of the Railway

[Thumper Bill]

If you had the authority, what new rules would you introduce to rail passengers?
I would ban smelly food after an unpleasent journey from Diss to Norwich last week because of a kebab eating drunk.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

One for the operators. A complete ban on fare rises

 

[D841 Roebuck]

A single type of coupling nationwide to ensure all trains can work in multiple and, if broken, can be rescued by the nearest available loco or unit.

Also, a ban on children occupying seats when adults are standing.

 

[ainsworth74]

Also, a ban on children occupying seats when adults are standing.

What age are we talking about? Under 5s are already required to give up their seat if required for a standing fare paying passenger. Any older than that and the child is also a fare paying passenger so I don't think it's fair that they should be required to give up their seat.

 

[NSE]

Also, a ban on children occupying seats when adults are standing.

I disagree 100%. I've been on the tube with a young child, and I let her sit down when there was standing adults. When you get to a station like Oxford Circus the rush of people on and off means a child can easily get pulled away, plus it can be a disorientating atmosphere. Therefore I gave her the seat. Also, adults can stand for far longer than children. Elderly people or pregnant women are of course a different story, but your standard adult can stand for a child.

 

[Johnuk123]

What age are we talking about? Under 5s are already required to give up their seat if required for a standing fare paying passenger. Any older than that and the child is also a fare paying passenger so I don't think it's fair that they should be required to give up their seat.

I take your point about children being fare paying passengers.

But surely you wouldn't expect an old age pensioner to stand whilst a child remains seated.
If I had a child with me they would be instantly told to give up their seat because I'm old fashioned and believe in simple manners.

 

[ainsworth74]

But surely you wouldn't expect an old age pensioner to stand whilst a child remains seated.
If I had a child with me they would be instantly told to give up their seat because I'm old fashioned and believe in simple manners.

No I'd them to give up their seat, because as you say it's a manners thing. Though I'd hold the same expectation of anyone not just children, I see no reason why adults shouldn't give up their seat either even if there is a child around. Why should you keep your seat but the child with you lose it?

But back to the point of 'railway rules' as both the OAP and child are fare payers I see no reason why this should be codified into the NRCoC.

 

[Johnuk123]

No I'd them to give up their seat, because as you say it's a manners thing. Though I'd hold the same expectation of anyone not just children, I see no reason why adults shouldn't give up their seat either even if there is a child around. Why should you keep your seat but the child with you lose it?

But back to the point of 'railway rules' as both the OAP and child are fare payers I see no reason why this should be codified into the NRCoC.

I know this thread is about what rules should be introduced but I mean't more of a personal thing regarding giving up a seat, making it a rule is perhaps a bit too far.

I agree with your first point about adults giving up their seats as well if required.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

What age are we talking about? Under 5s are already required to give up their seat if required for a standing fare paying passenger. Any older than that and the child is also a fare paying passenger so I don't think it's fair that they should be required to give up their seat.

My original point should have specified the non-farepaying under fives. I didn't realise there was a rule of this nature already. Does it ever get enforced?

 

[TrainBoy98]

Ive never really seen the under 5s rule enforced, especially on crowded london trains. It happens loads but neither the guard or the parents care

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Aren't the railways struggling under the burden of more 'rules' than are necessary as it is?

Please, no more!

 

[SGS]

Interesting responses on the children-sitting issue. It illustrates how attitudes have changed over time. I recall the reasoning for children giving up seats being not just about elderly passengers, etc. but also being hierarchical: they were children, not adults, and children were expected to defer to adults.

 

[ainsworth74]

I didn't realise there was a rule of this nature already. Does it ever get enforced?

No idea but it's there in the NRCoC:

5. Children

Up to two children under five years of age may travel free of charge with a passenger holding a ticket or other authority to travel. However, children under five years of age who are travelling free may only occupy a seat which is not required by a passenger holding a ticket or appropriate authority to travel.

 

[CC 72100]

I disagree 100%. I've been on the tube with a young child, and I let her sit down when there was standing adults. When you get to a station like Oxford Circus the rush of people on and off means a child can easily get pulled away, plus it can be a disorientating atmosphere. Therefore I gave her the seat.

I disagree with this. When I used the tube with my family when I was lot younger, I'd rather stand with parents than take a seat, as you could then find that it gets very busy at the next stop, and surely not being able to see your parents is a bit disconcerting for a young child? I'd rather stand where I could see parents than sit down where lots of other people are blocking the way, especially if you forgot where to get off etc, in the way that young children would do.

No idea but it's there in the NRCoC:

As much as it is in there, I'd find that incredibly difficult to enforce. I personally couldn't for example go up to a mother and ask her to move her un-fare paying children so that I could sit down. I don't know who would actually do that...

 

[Trog]

I think the idea is that the under fives will move to sitting on their parents lap.

 

[Eagle]

Well they're small enough that they're basically hand luggage...

 

[D365]

I would have required a rather long container

 

[Chapeltom]

Anyone caught deliberately trying to board a train before passengers have started to alight, should be fined £100 for gross stupidity. This REALLY irritates me :-x

I saw it tonight at Manchester Oxford Road and I was getting on and saw a woman do this, barging her way on, I told her how rude it was and I got blanked. :-x

 

[DXMachina]

Maybe some sort of automatic poking device could be designed to deter people from pushing inward through exiting passengers

 

[Monty]

Anyone caught deliberately trying to board a train before passengers have started to alight, should be fined £100 for gross stupidity. This REALLY irritates me :-x

I saw it tonight at Manchester Oxford Road and I was getting on and saw a woman do this, barging her way on, I told her how rude it was and I got blanked. :-x

Section 10 (1) of the railway Byelaws actually makes it an offence to board a train without waiting for others to alight first.

I have to concur though and I find to be one of my main irritations with passenger etiquette, as well as obstructing automatic doors (which ironically enough is also an offence see section 11 (1) ).

 

[MK Tom]

Introduce a maximum volume limit for mobile phone conversations. Goes for buses too - and the country at large.

On a more serious note, rudeness towards other passengers should be taken far more seriously. Loud swearing, disrespectful or disruptive behaviour, one warning and off.

 

[ainsworth74]

Anyone caught deliberately trying to board a train before passengers have started to alight, should be fined £100 for gross stupidity.

I agree it is annoying, but this is another one that's already covered, this time by the Railway Byelaws:

10. Trains

(1) No person shall enter through any train door until any person leaving by that
door has passed through.

And a Byelaw offence is punishable by up to a £1000 fine!

 

[Chapeltom]

I agree it is annoying, but this is another one that's already covered, this time by the Railway Byelaws:



And a Byelaw offence is punishable by up to a £1000 fine!

I genuinely didn't know that. Not surprised the offence exists though.

 

[David Goddard]

How about:

No person shall place their feet on any surface provided for any person to sit on.

 

[Eagle]

No person shall place their feet on any surface provided for any person to sit on.

Could probably be classed as "soiling the Railway", which is banned by Byelaw 6(4).

 

[ainsworth74]

Could probably be classed as "soiling the Railway", which is banned by Byelaw 6(4).

I think there is a precedent for that being used, as I think Merseyrail have used it against people, but I'm not 100% on that.

On a more serious note, rudeness towards other passengers should be taken far more seriously. Loud swearing, disrespectful or disruptive behaviour, one warning and off.

Already covered in the Byelaws:

6. Unacceptable behaviour

(1) No person shall use any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language
on the railway.

I think what this thread is showing is that the railway already has most (of the sensible) suggested rules already, they're just not often enforced.

 

[NSE]

I disagree with this. When I used the tube with my family when I was lot younger, I'd rather stand with parents than take a seat, as you could then find that it gets very busy at the next stop, and surely not being able to see your parents is a bit disconcerting for a young child? I'd rather stand where I could see parents than sit down where lots of other people are blocking the way, especially if you forgot where to get off etc, in the way that young

Well obviously I stood right in front of her seat, not gonna dump a four year old at one end of the tube and merrily stand at the other. :L

 

[Eagle]

Careful reading of the byelaws gives some interesting conclusions: for instance 9(1) appears to make it an offence to stand on an escalator facing backwards.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hefty fines for the morons who do not obey the "keep left" signs in the subway at Clapham Junction...

 

[12CSVT]

Enforce the ban on using mobile phones in quiet coaches, by making it a byelaw offence.

And make it a franchise requirement for all TOCs operating long distance services to have quiet coaches on its trains.