Why not just say 'excuse me'?

[lj9090]

It does (mildly) annoy when people in the window seat ask to get out 10 minutes before the station, when I am getting off at the same place.
I know they may not know the route, have bags to collect etc, but they aren't going to get any further than the aisle anyway cos of the people standing in it.

I just sit back down and enjoy having 2 seats to myself, never found that an annoyance really.

 

[DeeGee]

So, some people get annoyed if folk don't excuse themselves immediately they decide they need to gather together their things to get off the train, preferring to wait a while before disturbing their fellow passenger.

Meanwhile some people get annoyed at passengers who do excuse themselves early - preferring to gather their stuff together in the car end or vestibule and not disturb their fellow passenger.

If other passengers really annoy you so much, might I suggest you stop travelling by train?

 

[HSTEd]

Although it would be nice to think that one day you will meet the girl (or depending on your sexual orientation a boy) of your dreams in which case you will need to have the courage to talk to them! Just saying that's all

This is when I turn to my good friend ethanol.

 

[RichmondCommu]

This is when I turn to my good friend ethanol.

Fair enough, it can help providing you've not had too much! In which case they may turn away in disgust! However don't always trust the Beer Goggles!

 

[sheff1]

I would never speak to a sttanger in public so use non-verbal communication.

Striking up conversations with fellow passengers has often made a tedious journey pass much quicker. Highlights include a young woman who was travelling to her grandmothers grand estate outside Dundee; another who demonstrated how to artistically wrap up presents using discarded copies of the Metro newspaper; and finally an Asian woman returning from a modelling assignment who had a huge supply of home made samosas provided by her mother

 

[TUC]

Although it would be nice to think that one day you will meet the girl (or depending on your sexual orientation a boy) of your dreams in which case you will need to have the courage to talk to them! Just saying that's all
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However as soon as they attempt to get out of their seat surely it becomes obvious that they want to get off at the next station.

If they're standing up, it's obvious they want to get out so of course I would let them past. It's the ones who stay in their seat and just generally glance towards the doorway that are hard to figure out.

 

[Flamingo]

Striking up conversations with fellow passengers has often made a tedious journey pass much quicker. Highlights include a young woman who was travelling to her grandmothers grand estate outside Dundee; another who demonstrated how to artistically wrap up presents using discarded copies of the Metro newspaper; and finally an Asian woman returning from a modelling assignment who had a huge supply of home made samosas provided by her mother

I think I'd have asked the last one to marry me before getting off the train!

 

[TUC]

Saying excuse me involves talking to people.
Talking to people is scary.

Although, going back to what I said above, presumably if you needed to get past people in the street, you would need to speak to them as a matter of practicality.

 

[yorkie]

It does (mildly) annoy when people in the window seat ask to get out 10 minutes before the station, when I am getting off at the same place.

I can see your point, but...

If I'm in the Quiet Coach of a VTEC Mk4 set, and have my bike with me, it would be prudent to get out of my seat 10 minutes before the station. Likewise if I have a tight connection to make (especially if the train is running late) and I need to get to the optimum door to exit, and it's vital I'm among the first out to get a chance of making it

On the other hand, I've known people move to the vestibules to get off a lightly loaded train for York... in Knottingley! Though that amuses me, rather than annoys me, and telling people they're 15-20 minutes away from York normally results in them sitting back down.

I don't like being 'boxed in' the window seat because it may (mildly) annoy people if you have to get past them.

To go back to the original question, some people are elective mute/selective mute, and some people are simply shy in these sort of situations. I agree some are rude, but you can't always be sure.

 

[Busaholic]

Interesting comments. I would never speak to a sttanger in public so use non-verbal communication. Just a look into the yes and a nod will do the trick.

What is a minor annoyance is when people block the entrance to 1st class on a 377, it seems they dont expect anyone to want to go in :roll:

Not speaking to a stranger is a peculiarly British trait and can be taken to extremes.

Can't remember the exact year now, but it was in the mid 1970s. Was travelling from Hither Green to Waterloo (East) at the peak of the morning rush hour, standing jammed up, when we came to a stop between New Cross and London Bridge. We stood there, along with another three trains on adjoining tracks, for well over an hour. No mobile phones then, no way for the driver or guard to pass on any information. Get to London Bridge, no tannoy announcements, offload City passengers, get going again, glad to get a (window) seat even for the 2 or 3 minutes to Waterloo, when see on adjoining track (to Cannon Street) an empty train with the top of at least one carriage peeled back like a sardine can. Nobody else seems to have noticed, so I did the utterly unBritish thing of gasping loudly and saying loudly 'LOOK' whereupon not one person did, probably to avoid eye contact with the loony, and the train continued silent to Waterloo. Turned out an IRA bomb had exploded on a train from Gravesend to Cannon Street, but extremely fortunately when the train was leaving Cannon Street as empty stock so nobody was injured. I believe this was the first bomb on a train in the U.K. since the 1940s.

 

[pne]

It does (mildly) annoy when people in the window seat ask to get out 10 minutes before the station, when I am getting off at the same place.
I know they may not know the route, have bags to collect etc, but they aren't going to get any further than the aisle anyway cos of the people standing in it.

Same with aeroplanes.

What use is it to stand in the aisle for five minutes before the doors open? You're not getting off the aeroplane any quicker by standing than by sitting.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Same with aeroplanes.

What use is it to stand in the aisle for five minutes before the doors open? You're not getting off the aeroplane any quicker by standing than by sitting.

Yes exactly! My wife is one of these people, has caused many an argument when I have just remained in my seat until most have got off

 

[ivanhoe]

Yes exactly! My wife is one of these people, has caused many an argument when I have just remained in my seat until most have got off

Particularly when you maybe boarding a bus to the terminal. They don't leave until the aeroplane is empty

 

[Ash Bridge]

Particularly when you maybe boarding a bus to the terminal. They don't leave until the aeroplane is empty

Yes, exactly!

 

[cb a1]

Interesting reading this. I've no idea what I say when I want to get out from the window seat past someone sitting in the aisle. I do it frequently, but have no idea what I actually say - probably "excuse me" though.

As for talking to strangers on trains - that's one of the pleasures of travelling by train. It's not something I actively do on every trip, but it sure makes for a better trip.

Having been on the same commute over 8 years now, I've got to know some of the regulars that well that we've occassionally had Xmas and leaving parties.

 

[sheff1]

Same with aeroplanes.

What use is it to stand in the aisle for five minutes before the doors open? You're not getting off the aeroplane any quicker by standing than by sitting.

I can assure you that after being sat in a cramped seat on a one-class airline for a couple of hours, being able to stand up for 5 mins is absolute bliss.

 

[johnnychips]

Different countries, different ways. My Year 9 class were horrified today when I told them that there were 'pushers-on' at Japanese tube stations, women-only carriages and the reason why. On the other hand they quite sympathised with the idea you shouldn't blow your nose indiscreetly!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I was always bought up at home and school to be polite, a failure to do so was not an option.

I always say excuse me to other passengers if I need to get off or move through the carriage and move out the way when others need to do so, and it's nice to get a smile or thank you when doing so. I was travelling yesterday in an aisle seat when the two ladies by the window next to me and opposite wanted to get off, did not ask just started to get up, I stood to make way form them, neither of them either thanked me, smiled or acknowledged me at all. I thinks that's just rude.