What is it?

[OMGitsDAVE]

What is it with the British Public today and sitting at a table seat, alone?

Yesterday I was on a Northern Service from Metro Centre to Middlesbrough, it was a 156. A woman got on at Newcastle Central (along with a crowd of others), and sat down at the 4-seat table, put her feet up and then if anyone sat near her, she would say "Do you mind?!" and give them a look of disbelief. The train was practically full, and she had 3 seats to be given away.

What is it? Greed? What?!

 

[asylumxl]

It's selfishness. Down south we just sit down there anyway and if anythings said let swears be exchanged.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

The thing was, though - she had NO BAGS, she just plonked herself down and just started staring at people that were looking for a seat. It came to a point where people would only stand. :roll:

 

[Templecombe]

The thing was, though - she had NO BAGS, she just plonked herself down and just started staring at people that were looking for a seat. It came to a point where people would only stand. :roll:

just sit there anyway she can't do anything if theres 3 of you and 1 of her

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

just sit there anyway she can't do anything if theres 3 of you and 1 of her

I already had a seat with my 3 friends at a table, as i got on a stop before.
I really think its appalling she thinks she has the right to make others stand for her own selfish actions.

 

[Templecombe]

I already had a seat with my 3 friends at a table, as i got on a stop before.
I really think its appalling she thinks she has the right to make others stand for her own selfish actions.

The TI should have had a word about her feet on the seat through.

 

[The_Stig]

I had a wee trip yesterday with the wife and 2 kids and witnessed this on all three trains, it is just pure selfishness.

There was a guy with a laptop who was sitting in a 2 seating position, at least he had the decency to not take a table.

I have also had it on a return trip to Glasgow Queen st from Edinburgh. A guy plonked HIMSELF down in a table position and so I told my missus and 2 kids to sit there too as there was no other table seating, plenty of 2 seats. I managed to get a single space 2 seats along the train. It must have been some trip as the kids had toys and must have done his head in.
In the end he offered his seat to me, I generously declined, allowing him his seat.

 

[Greenback]

In Cornwall the other week I went to sit in a spare table seat and Mrs G went to do the same across the aisle. The woman opposite her made a face and started sighing and scowling, as though she and her family had the right to have a spare seat to put their feet on!

Fortunately, Mrs G is made of stern stuff and did not move, but it is yet another example of the selfishness that is now endemic in this country. How anyone is expected to give up their seat when some people don;t even want to 'give up' an emopty seat is beyond me!

 

[philjo]

I hope that someone asked if she had purchased a ticket for each of the seats!

 

[londonbridge]

Woman yesterday had her bags on the seat next to her,a lady got on and asked 'Can I sit here'? Woman gave her a dirty look,lady said 'Your bags haven't bought a ticket for a seat so just move them please before I call the guard'. Woman reluctantly moved them.

 

[Kernowfem]

I would have given her the vilest stare back before promptly parking my backside down, and to finish off id lean closely towards her and whisper 'I do apologise in advance, last nights curry just wont behave itself!'

 

[scotsman]

As a rule of thumb, I always ask to sit next to those who place their bags on the seats next to them.

 

[jon0844]

I think I mentioned before where two ladies each had 'carry on bags' on the seat next to them (so taking up a table for 4) and when I asked if they could move them, they tutted and said they were getting off at the next stop anyway.

Now, if my wife hadn't been with me and wanting an easy life, I'd have happily moved the bags off there and then and thrown them up on the luggage rack, or (having now thought about it) in the vestibule ready for them to alight at the next station. Instead, I waited by their table to the next stop. Not that they cared, the lady that spoke to me seemed to think I was very beneath her and carried on a conversation even when she was fully aware of us both standing next to them for a whole stop.

Still, I'm not bitter. I hope she went off and fell under a bus.

 

[leewoods60019]

Happens all time for me, people put bags on seats, and there legs etc. I mean i put bags on seats then move them kindly when someone is awaiting a seat...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

on an ex-ATW Northern 142 a while back, Huddersfield-Sheff via Penistone, this guy sat his dog on the seat next to him, it got busy at Barnsley, and someone asked him to move his dog so they could sit down. the man refused and gave the woman a mouthful of abuse - she promptly told the guard, and the guard told him to ove the dog, buy a ticket for the seat or get chucked off at Chapelton. He moved the dog

 

[Squaddie]

What is it with the British Public today and sitting at a table seat, alone?

A passenger travelling alone has just as much right to sit at a table seat as anyone else. It's almost impossible to read a broadsheet newspaper in typical, cramped airline-style seating. If a family of four want to be certain of sitting together around a table then they should make reservations.

This, of course, does not excuse the kind of behaviour detailed in the rest of this thread.

 

[route101]

i try and not to sit in a table if im alone , i just hate when a group of people sit around you or staring at somone opp . on mon i moved seat on to a single seat on ec first class because my reservation was on a table .

 

[yorkie]

Lone passengers do have the right to sit at a table but have no rights to complain when all 3 seats become occupied by a group who then have a conversation around them. I prefer non-table seats but on TOCs that only provide power sockets at table seats, e.g. TPE, I will take a window table seat, and listen to headphones. If a group then sit around me, I would expect that and it wouldn't bother me. But in general I do try my best to avoid table seats if alone, unless the train is very lightly loaded and there's loads of tables available.

If you're in a group of 3 and you see a table with 1 person sat at it, just sit there and surround them, they can't stop you!

 

[Oliver]

I suggest that train annoucements include a request that passengers should only occupy one seat and not put bags on adjacent seats. In Holland I have seen ticket inspectors ask teenage girls to remove their suitcases from adjacent seats or buy tickets for them.

 

[Geezertronic]

I travel alone down to London and back (to BHI) and I always book a table seat. On the EBW's they are always busy so the chances of not getting anyone sat by you is slim.

Actually yesterday I was late for the train on the way home and a guy had sat at the isle seat and his bag was on my reserved window seat (clearly marked as usual ) so I asked him to move it so I could take my seat. He seemed quite put out and while he was moving he clearly looked around the coach since there were still free seats. I just tapped the reservation dot matrix and sat down and funnily enough he decided to move after the scheduled pickup stop at Watford Junction The train was actually less busier than normal for some reason?!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Once saw it all kick off on a railtour about bags on a seat once... The (Spitfire I think) tour Man Vic-Huddersfd-Hebden Bridge-Blackburn-Bolton-Man Vic-The Oldham Loop on the last day of the Loop

 

[wintonian]

I admit if I have a bag I normally plonk it on the seat next to me but if there is quite a few people on the train I keep an eye out and tuck it under the seat when most of the seat have gone, yes a little selfish but I do move it before all the seats in the carriage have gone thus still giving people a choice of where to sit still..

I find it's the commuters that are ones to give you evil looks when you sit next to them without wearing a suit, but then you normally have to sit in the vestibule by the toilet from Winchester in the morning peak anyway.

 

[Greenback]

Putting a bag on a seats ends out a clear message saying 'I don't want anyone else to sit here'. So, yes, it is selfish! it doesn;t always work, though! If I'm in the mood, I will ask those people first, even if there ar eother empty seats without bags! I'm sure I'm not the only one!

 

[wintonian]

And I wouldn't mind, you can sit where you like (as long as it's not reserved for anyone) it’s just convenience for me as I am always dipping in and out of it on long journeys.

But would you still ask to sit there if we were the only 2 people in the carriage?

 

[scotsman]

I'm doing TTI at a preserved railway this weekend, rest assured I will take your comments onboard (pardon the pun) and ask those who place bags on empty seats to move them!

 

[455driver]

If I want a seat and somebody has a bag on it I ask them to move it, if they don't I just sit on the bag
On the way back from Yorkshire with the wifey and 2 small kids; there was a young woman sat at a table with bags on all the other seats so I asked her to move them, she mumbled something but moved them so I sat the 2 kids and myself opposite her and the other half beside her. Got the lappy out so the kids could watch a film and plonked it down on top of all the paperwork she had covering the whole table

She started tutting to which I replied "isn't it terrible when other people want their share of the table".
Trolley comes round so 2 teas, 2 orange juices, 4 sandwiches, 2 crisps, 3 cakes ta.
When she got of (at Cheltenham) she gave us such a look so I said "hope you enjoyed the trip, see you soon".
I don't do delicate me

Scotsman, preserved lines are different, for 1 they dont get that full and 2, people are there because they want to be, not because they have to.
Now I don't mind sharing, even giving a bit extra if needed but her attitude was that she was entitled to the 4 seats and all the table, wrong dear!

 

[Geezertronic]

But would you still ask to sit there if we were the only 2 people in the carriage?

I would if it was my reserved seat and it was clearly marked as such

 

[Greenback]

And I wouldn't mind, you can sit where you like (as long as it's not reserved for anyone) it’s just convenience for me as I am always dipping in and out of it on long journeys.

But would you still ask to sit there if we were the only 2 people in the carriage?

No, not unless I'm in a very, very bad mood!

I always take a window seat if there's one available, whcih leads me to another dirty trick! People sit in the aisle seat in the hope that no one will ask if they can sit by the window!

On the rather full 1404 from Cardiff on Monday, there was much toing and froing as the guard evicted people from reserved seats. An elderly chap was watching and smirking, until one of those who had been moved made a point fo asking him to mvoe his bag on the window seat! After much sighing he put it on the rack, strangely not smirking any more!

 

[142094]

I often sit by myself at a table on 156s, mainly due to the fact that the 2x2 seats have hardly any leg room. Most of the time it is off-peak so no-one else wants to sit at a table. I'd gladly move if someone asked, however most of the time people just mutter under their breath and tut. If they don't ask I'll stay put.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

If I want a seat and somebody has a bag on it I ask them to move it, if they don't I just sit on the bag
On the way back from Yorkshire with the wifey and 2 small kids; there was a young woman sat at a table with bags on all the other seats so I asked her to move them, she mumbled something but moved them so I sat the 2 kids and myself opposite her and the other half beside her. Got the lappy out so the kids could watch a film and plonked it down on top of all the paperwork she had covering the whole table

She started tutting to which I replied "isn't it terrible when other people want their share of the table".
Trolley comes round so 2 teas, 2 orange juices, 4 sandwiches, 2 crisps, 3 cakes ta.
When she got of (at Cheltenham) she gave us such a look so I said "hope you enjoyed the trip, see you soon".
I don't do delicate me

That made me smile mate well done for having the bottle to do what you did - some would just shy away