Whistling on trains

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I just can’t believe how many times in 2023 I have been sat on a train only for somebody to start whistling! It’s absolutely shocked me.

Surely nobody, regardless of whether we’re in the Quiet Zone or not, considers this to be acceptable?

I cannot think of anybody who would not be peed off by the sound of someone whistling while sat on a train, and I cannot understand for the life of me what prompt someone to start doing so?!

And would someone be in the right if they asked a whistler to stop?

I just think it’s a disgracefully inconsiderate thing to do. Let me know what you think.

I’ll admit I am (mostly) talking about my experiences on trains in Australia here, as I haven’t really been on more than a handful of British trains in 2023. People seem to play music and TV out loud here an awful lot too, but HALF of all Intercity trains are quiet zones, which are a haven for me who likes to work on a train in peace.

 

[westv]

I really can't stand whistling, anywhere.

 

[HarryF]

I can’t stand whistling or sniffing. It’s very rude as someone could be wanting to sleep on a long distance train.

 

[alxndr]

It's been a very long time since I've heard someone whistling for the sake of it and not to attract attention/recall a dog. Unless they were hopelessly out of tune I'd probably be more surprised and amused at hearing someone whistle than anything else.

In general though I think people should keep their noises to themselves whether or not they're in a quiet carriage, unless it's normal level conversation or a noise that they cannot help.

 

[Tramfan]

I really can't stand the sound of whilstling either, so it would annoy me in any situation not just on public transport

 

[LowLevel]

I occasionally whistle subconsciously whilst operating the train doors, it's a concentration response I think.

I hate it and things like flicking through music or TikTok in the carriage though. My brain focuses on to it from half a coach away and it bores into me.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Wow.
First world problems.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Maybe I should change the title to whistling in any public place.

be it in a cafe, shop, on the bus or anywhere with people around, it’s awful

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

Wow.
First world problems.

What a helpful, not at all stupid comment. Thanks for that Sapph.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

I can’t stand whistling or sniffing. It’s very rude as someone could be wanting to sleep on a long distance train.

Someone once did it in a doctor’s waiting room! Imagine having a horrendous migraine and having that.

 

[43066]

I just can’t believe how many times in 2023 I have been sat on a train only for somebody to start whistling! It’s absolutely shocked me.

Surely nobody, regardless of whether we’re in the Quiet Zone or not, considers this to be acceptable?

I cannot think of anybody who would not be peed off by the sound of someone whistling while sat on a train, and I cannot understand for the life of me what prompt someone to start doing so?!

And would someone be in the right if they asked a whistler to stop?

I just think it’s a disgracefully inconsiderate thing to do. Let me know what you think.

I’ll admit I am talking about my experiences on trains in Australia here, as I haven’t really been on more than a handful of British trains in 2023. People seem to play music and TV out loud here an awful lot too, but HALF of all Intercity trains are quiet zones, which are a haven for me who likes to work on a train in peace.

I wonder if the whistling is an Australian thing (funny lot that they are ).

Half of all IC trains being quiet zones sounds like an excellent idea to me. My question would be is it enforced effectively, though?

Perhaps people in Australia have better manners than most Brits (not difficult!) so they naturally abide by it?

 

[VauxhallandI]

Wow.
First world problems.

I’d suggest you are on the wrong forum

 

[InkyScrolls]

Wow.
First world problems.

Thanks for that - easy to forget that everyone must always be fine with everything, permanently happy and never have any problems, unless one lives in the third world. My bad.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I wonder if the whistling is an Australian thing (funny lot that they are ).

Half of all IC trains being quiet zones sounds like an excellent idea to me. My question would be is it enforced effectively, though?

Perhaps people in Australia have better manners than most Brits (not difficult!) so they naturally abide by it?

Honestly I really like the wealth of Quiet Zones. All Intercity stock are four carriages and it’s the front and rear. Many people don’t see the signs and chat loudly or use their phones though, and I don’t like asking people to be quiet because I feel it isn’t my place, and its awkward, so I have a trick

I put my phone to my ear and say loudly “Oh hi - yes - sorry I can’t talk, I’m in the Quiet Carriage on the train, I’ll call you back,” and then the loud people who didn’t realise then do, without any awkwardness. I did it on Monday and one of a loud group of girls went “Oh sh*t we’re in the Quiet Zone” and whispered from then on

As for the better manners, not sure. I asked a train guard if she knew whether the 1345 to Newcastle Intg would be a H or V Set, and she said “F**k that, you must be a train poof then, mate,” and grinned broadly. Would be scandalous in the UK but they’re laid back as hell here.

 

[Ivor]

People seem to play music and TV out loud here an awful lot too, but HALF of all Intercity trains are quiet zones, which are a haven for me who likes to work on a train in peace.

Yep tv shows out loud on Southern Railway trains seems to be getting worse especially on early commuter trains.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I occasionally whistle subconsciously whilst operating the train doors, it's a concentration response I think.

I hate it and things like flicking through music or TikTok in the carriage though. My brain focuses on to it from half a coach away and it bores into me.

Today I was sat in the Quiet Zone and a suited man was tapping his work shoe on the side panel making an absolute racket for an hour.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

Yep tv shows out loud on Southern Railway trains seems to be getting worse especially on early commuter trains.

I noticed plenty of threads on this, but none on whistling. I hate both but whistling is worse for me. It’s pretty piercing.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Meanwhile, if I don't want to deal with other people getting on with the business of being people, I stick some earphones in or stay at home so I don't have to deal with them. I wish I had the energy to be permantly outraged and fairly normal, everyday behaviour. Remind me, next time I travel by train, to sit perfectly upright, facing forwards, arms folded, finger on lips, with my phone turned off, staying absolutely perfectly still and making sure I don't breath too loudly in case I outrage somebody half a dozen rows away

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Meanwhile, if I don't want to deal with other people getting on with the business of being people, I stick some earphones in or stay at home so I don't have to deal with them. I wish I had the energy to be permantly outraged and fairly normal, everyday behaviour. Remind me, next time I travel by train, to sit perfectly upright, facing forwards, arms folded, finger on lips, with my phone turned off, staying absolutely perfectly still and making sure I don't breath too loudly in case I outrage somebody half a dozen rows away

You must be a joy to share a train carriage with, I dread to think what you might do with such an attitude. You do not need to “sit perfectly upright, facing forwards, arms folded, finger on lips, with my phone turned off, staying absolutely perfectly still and making sure I don't breath too loudly,” but showing some common courtesy, or having a little decorum on public transport might be appreciated by many others.

“Stay at home” … I’m annoyed at myself for justifying this ridiculously facetious trolling comment with a response, to be honest.

 

[43066]

As for the better manners, not sure. I asked a train guard if she knew whether the 1345 to Newcastle Intg would be a H or V Set, and she said “F**k that, you must be a train poof then, mate,” and grinned broadly. Would be scandalous in the UK but they’re laid back as hell here.

I like the sound of it already .

Today I was sat in the Quiet Zone and a suited man was tapping his work shoe on the side panel making an absolute racket for an hour.

Good to know I’m not the only one who is intensely irritated by this kind of behaviour!

Remind me, next time I travel by train, to sit perfectly upright, facing forwards, arms folded, finger on lips, with my phone turned off, staying absolutely perfectly still and making sure I don't breath too loudly in case I outrage somebody half a dozen rows away

No need for that - just have some regard for other passengers and don’t act as if you’re in your own front room. Sadly basic manners increasingly seem to be a thing of the past.

 

[Bantamzen]

Well we all have something that irritates, agitates or even makes us anxious. The trick to life is being able to find your own way to deal with other people's foibles without expecting everyone else to conform to our own. Some people whistle just because they are happy, and that isn't something they should be lamented for. Live and let live...

 

[Lewisham2221]

You must be a joy to share a train carriage with, I dread to think what you might do with such an attitude. You do not need to “sit perfectly upright, facing forwards, arms folded, finger on lips, with my phone turned off, staying absolutely perfectly still and making sure I don't breath too loudly,” but showing some common courtesy, or having a little decorum on public transport might be appreciated by many others.

“Stay at home” … I’m annoyed at myself for justifying this ridiculously facetious trolling comment with a response, to be honest.

Unless you've shared a train carriage with me (safe to say there's a pretty substantial chance that you haven't), I'd rather you didn't make assumptions about my behaviour. Wildly inaccurate assumptions they are, too.

 

[zwk500]

If it was whistling on for a long time, absolutely would be peeved by it. If somebody just did a couple of seconds I'd probably not notice it.
Various other parts of 'keeping noise to yourself' do seem to generally be slipping away.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Well we all have something that irritates, agitates or even makes us anxious. The trick to life is being able to find your own way to deal with other people's foibles without expecting everyone else to conform to our own. Some people whistle just because they are happy, and that isn't something they should be lamented for. Live and let live...

This is the sort of point I was trying to make, although admittedly rather sarcastically.

Some people hate sitting in silence. Some find it difficult to sit still without fiddling or fidgeting (and undoubtedly making some sort of noise in the process) - should they be banned from public transport? No doubt some of these things such as humming, whistling, tapping etc happen subconsciously and the person doing it barely even knows they are doing it, let alone annoying somebody else.

One of my own pet peeves is 1 or 2 people taking over a bay of 4 around a table, with laptops and paperwork spread out, spending almost the entire journey spouting corporate buzz words and office workplace lingo. But I don't let it get to me. They have their reason for travelling, I have mine.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Live and let live, in my view. Adjust your own behaviour if you need to maintain your own comfort (such as earphones, or even moving seats etc) unless someone else is actually behaving outside the rules.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Live and let live, in my view. Adjust your own behaviour if you need to maintain your own comfort (such as earphones, or even moving seats etc) unless someone else is actually behaving outside the rules.

If I were to eat crisps and spill crumbs all over you (ridiculous analogy but sometimes they need to be to get a point across), or rather cut my toenails while sat in the seat next to you, I would not be breaking the rules, but it god damn wouldn't be very courteous of me, and I certainly would not expect you to "Live and let live."

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

Unless you've shared a train carriage with me (safe to say there's a pretty substantial chance that you haven't), I'd rather you didn't make assumptions about my behaviour. Wildly inaccurate assumptions they are, too.

I famously hate sweeping assumptions and call them out often on this forum, so I apologise for that, but I do believe your response to be highly unfair. Finding it impolite to whistle in a train carriage with people is not something I believe to be unreasonable. The fact your response was dripping with sarcasm also made the post seem wholly less personable, also. I'd understand if I was complaining about breathing loudly, or someone who kept coughing, but I simply fail to understand why anyone would feel the need to whistle on-board, and how they would not consider that to be uncourteous behaviour.

 

[LowLevel]

If I were to eat crisps and spill crumbs all over you (ridiculous analogy but sometimes they need to be to get a point across), or rather cut my toenails while sat in the seat next to you, I would not be breaking the rules, but it god damn wouldn't be very courteous of me, and I certainly would not expect you to "Live and let live."

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==


I famously hate sweeping assumptions and call them out often on this forum, so I apologise for that, but I do believe your response to be highly unfair. Finding it impolite to whistle in a train carriage with people is not something I believe to be unreasonable.

We have an unknown train driver (or guard, but for some reason my gut instinct is driver) who is currently in the habit of leaving egg shells all over the driving cab from hard boiled eggs.

This reminds me of the "things that irritate you on the railway" thread that we had a little while back

 

[Bantamzen]

This is the sort of point I was trying to make, although admittedly rather sarcastically.

Some people hate sitting in silence. Some find it difficult to sit still without fiddling or fidgeting (and undoubtedly making some sort of noise in the process) - should they be banned from public transport? No doubt some of these things such as humming, whistling, tapping etc happen subconsciously and the person doing it barely even knows they are doing it, let alone annoying somebody else.

One of my own pet peeves is 1 or 2 people taking over a bay of 4 around a table, with laptops and paperwork spread out, spending almost the entire journey spouting corporate buzz words and office workplace lingo. But I don't let it get to me. They have their reason for travelling, I have mine.

Indeed, I understand that some people find certain behaviours from others difficult to cope with. But as a functioning society we have to try and accept that there will be things that get under our skin but that we have to live with.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

We have an unknown train driver (or guard, but for some reason my gut instinct is driver) who is currently in the habit of leaving egg shells all over the driving cab from hard boiled eggs.

I'm not sure what would be worse, the lingering smell of egg or sharp pieces of shell left on the chair!
It just saddens me how some people think if you're not breaking the rules then all is absolutely fine. I know you're a member who often reads my Australian trip reports (thanks, btw ) and so you may remember I was telling of a man on an XPT who was rubbing his barefeet on both the window and the seat in front of him. I don't believe that's against the rules, but it's certainly nasty.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

Indeed, I understand that some people find certain behaviours from others difficult to cope with. But as a functioning society we have to try and accept that there will be things that get under our skin but that we have to live with.

Would you consider it acceptable to watch Netflix on the train from one's phone with no headphones, out of interest? It's quite a similar thing, and I know many forumers have strong opinions on that.

 

[Efini92]

We have an unknown train driver (or guard, but for some reason my gut instinct is driver) who is currently in the habit of leaving egg shells all over the driving cab from hard boiled eggs.

This reminds me of the "things that irritate you on the railway" thread that we had a little while back

The ones that leave their tea bags in the cab annoy me.

 

[zwk500]

I'm not sure what would be worse, the lingering smell of egg or sharp pieces of shell left on the chair!
It just saddens me how some people think if you're not breaking the rules then all is absolutely fine. I know you're a member who often reads my Australian trip reports (thanks, btw ) and so you may remember I was telling of a man on an XPT who was rubbing his barefeet on both the window and the seat in front of him. I don't believe that's against the rules, but it's certainly nasty.

The thing is that there is a reason some things are against the rules explicitly and others are against rules like 'not cause a disturbance' - because what might annoy you may not annoy somebody else. Whistling depends very much on intensity, tunefulness and duration for me. Other things are just generally not on, like cutting toenails or putting barefeet all over the windows and tables.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2023 ==

Would you consider it acceptable to watch Netflix on the train from one's phone with no headphones, out of interest? It's quite a similar thing, and I know many forumers have strong opinions on that.

I personally wouldn't. It's basically white noise to anybody not in the seat immediately adjacent, and it's very disrespectful. Although I also wouldn't consider it enough to warrant me intervening.

 

[43066]

We have an unknown train driver (or guard, but for some reason my gut instinct is driver) who is currently in the habit of leaving egg shells all over the driving cab from hard boiled eggs.

Agreed it’s more likely to be a driver.

Really out of order to do that. It’s a shared workplace, after all, and should be treated as such out of respect for one’s colleagues. Nobody would dream of doing that in an office!

 

[Bantamzen]

Would you consider it acceptable to watch Netflix on the train from one's phone with no headphones, out of interest? It's quite a similar thing, and I know many forumers have strong opinions on that.

Its nothing like it at all, I am not getting into irrelevant comparisons like that.