Smelly passenger

[Hellfire]

I was on a TPE service the other day and a very large woman got on at Preston. Not to put too fine a point on it she absolutely stank.

Within a few minutes everyone within six seats of her had moved elsewhere in the train but you could still smell her halfway down the carriage.

Being British no one complained but she was certainly a topic of conversation.

Luckily the train was only half full but I hate to think what it would be like on a crowded service. Would the TM have been justified in asking her to get off at the next station?

 

[ess]

Do the NRCoC have anything to say on the matter?


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[Abpj17]

I assume you are talking natural?

If someone is heavily perfumed, then I find that much much worse than anything natural or the drunks on the train. It can set of sneezing, runny eyes, coughing because of annoying allergies

 

[bunnahabhain]

If they're soiling the train then they can be removed. If they suffer from absolutely stinking then no, I don't believe they can be, would be, or even should be. If there is an issue then people should say so.

 

[Howardh]

In a pub I once sat, accidentally, on a seat which someone had puked over. All over my pants, and the smell was probably far worse than that woman - and I had to go home on the train.
I could have taken my pants off in the pub and tried to wash them, but as it was around freezing hypothermia would have set in going home. The other option was to put them in a bag and go home half-naked - which may or may not have been against T's and C's (what is the train's default setting for nudity?).
I just had to grin and bear it on the train, and hope no-one noticed (everyone did). I just had to pretend it wasn't me (they knew). Worst Journey Ever.
Should have chucked the pants and done it nude. Say it was stag do and all that and take the fine as a hit.

 

[fowler9]

I was on a TPE service the other day and a very large woman got on at Preston. Not to put too fine a point on it she absolutely stank.

Within a few minutes everyone within six seats of her had moved elsewhere in the train but you could still smell her halfway down the carriage.

Being British no one complained but she was certainly a topic of conversation.

Luckily the train was only half full but I hate to think what it would be like on a crowded service. Would the TM have been justified in asking her to get off at the next station?

Some people have medical conditions which result in them smelling slightly unpleasant in some peoples mind. Some diabetics smell like they have been on the ale. Many of these conditions result from the inability of their body to break down certain chemicals.

 

[deltic1989]

Would these be of any help in this situation?

5. Unfit to be on the railway
No person shall enter or remain on the railway if, in the reasonable opinion of
an authorised person, he is in an unfit or improper condition or his clothing
may soil or damage any part of the railway or the property or clothing of any
person on the railway

6.(8) No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of
any person on the railway.

 

[fowler9]

Would these be of any help in this situation?

How would any of that work if the person in question had a medical condition?

 

[asylumxl]

Chances are if they smell that bad, they already know and are self conscious of it. They need to travel somehow so try and show some compassion.

 

[IanD]

In a pub I once sat, accidentally, on a seat which someone had puked over. All over my pants, and the smell was probably far worse than that woman - and I had to go home on the train.
I could have taken my pants off in the pub and tried to wash them, but as it was around freezing hypothermia would have set in going home. The other option was to put them in a bag and go home half-naked - which may or may not have been against T's and C's (what is the train's default setting for nudity?).
I just had to grin and bear it on the train, and hope no-one noticed (everyone did). I just had to pretend it wasn't me (they knew). Worst Journey Ever.
Should have chucked the pants and done it nude. Say it was stag do and all that and take the fine as a hit.

I'm hoping you're talking Northern/US pants here rather than the bizarre southern UK notion that pants are underpants. Just what they think underpants go under if not pants is a mystery to me!

 

[High Dyke]

I agree with the comment regarding overdosing of perfume... I had to take a deep breath before walking passed the perfume counter in Boots yesterday... Yes that does tend to linger in your nostrils and throat.

As for personal odour...be careful not to pre-judge a person. I sometimes think i may need to freshen up and worry that others may notice - that could trigger a personal worry in some people about how others perceive those individuals... As for other people sometimes they may not realise, but how do you approach the subject with them?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I assume you are talking natural?

If someone is heavily perfumed, then I find that much much worse than anything natural or the drunks on the train. It can set of sneezing, runny eyes, coughing because of annoying allergies

Indeed, but I am sure that "perfumed" was not what the person was referring to..
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If they're soiling the train then they can be removed. If they suffer from absolutely stinking then no, I don't believe they can be, would be, or even should be. If there is an issue then people should say so.

To whom should the "saying so" be addressed and then if to a member of the train staff, noting the matter that this thread was set up to so discuss, what action do you expect to then follow?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I agree with the comment regarding overdosing of perfume... I had to take a deep breath before walking passed the perfume counter in Boots yesterday... Yes that does tend to linger in your nostrils and throat.

Strangely enough, when we are in Wilmslow and I am feeling somewhat a little unwell, a slow walk through the perfume and cosmetics department at the rear of the ground floor of the rather nice Hoopers department store, tends to revive me.

 

[theblackwatch]

I'm hoping you're talking Northern/US pants here rather than the bizarre southern UK notion that pants are underpants. Just what they think underpants go under if not pants is a mystery to me!

Not sure where you get this northern thing from - I'm from the north and pants are what you wear under your trousers...

 

[PaxVobiscum]

To whom should the "saying so" be addressed and then if to a member of the train staff, noting the matter that this thread was set up to so discuss, what action do you expect to then follow?

The train manager/guard should whisper "B.O." and hand the miasmatic Ms. a bar of Lifebuoy soap.

(source: http://www.magazineart.org/main.php/v/ads/personalitems/soap/Lifebuoy+Soap+-1934B.jpg.html)

 

[Howardh]

Not sure where you get this northern thing from - I'm from the north and pants are what you wear under your trousers...

Pants are trousers and underpants are men's knickers that go under the pants.
Now, these are pants.... http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/140211114400-norweigan-curling-pants-620xa.jpg

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not sure where you get this northern thing from - I'm from the north and pants are what you wear under your trousers...

Unless you are "Superman"..

 

[Darandio]

Pants are trousers

In American English, yes. Not here.

 

[nag67]

Not sure where you get this northern thing from - I'm from the north and pants are what you wear under your trousers...

Coming from Scotland, I agree wholeheartedly that pants are synonymous with underpants, and definitely not with trousers.

I have heard it the other way round in parts of the north of England, but I would say it is very much a minority interpretation.

 

[IanD]

Not sure where you get this northern thing from - I'm from the north and pants are what you wear under your trousers...

How things have changed since I moved south. Up north when I was a lad pants was trousers and underpants went under them hence their name. Seems you northerners are now adopting namby pamby southern ways. You'll not be complaining about paying £4 for a pint of beer soon!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

You could afford underpants? We had to follow the coalman until he took pity on us and threw us a piece of old sacking...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You could afford underpants? We had to follow the coalman until he took pity on us and threw us a piece of old sacking...

If this carries on, we will be reincarnating the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch..

 

[prod_pep]

In American English, yes. Not here.

It's definitely not just an American thing to call trousers 'pants'. Perhaps not all areas of Northern England do, but clearly large parts of it do.

I've only recently realised Southerners use the word 'pants' as synonymous with underpants. To everyone I know up here, 'pants' are trousers.

 

[Howardh]

Just throw this one in, in the US tights are worn by men (those sports pants). Mind you, they put gas into their cars and sneakers on their feet.

Doesn't help with smelly women or men stinking of sick on trains though. Maybe we should include showers on trains - although to be fair, forward-thinking Northern Rail already have. Unfortunately they only work when it's raining.

 

[cuccir]

Some people get it into their heads that certain words are Americanisms and therefore are somehow bad. I've had a similar issue with 'soccer' for football; few people realize that:

a. This is an English coinage
b. It has long been a more common word for football in certain parts of England, particularly where rugby league (which is often called football) is a popular game eg my granddad growing up in 1930s Barrow-in-Furness was called at school 'Soccer Patterson', and many people locally refer to Barrow football club as 'Barrow Soccer'.

Anyway, back on topic - it's a tough one. I similarly moved seats on a train a few weeks ago travelling Birmingham to Solihull due to someone's smell, again when the train was half-empty. I guess on a busy train people just have to grin and bear it - there can be any number of reasons for someone smelling and I'm not sure public transport is the best way for them to be confronted about it.

On a similar note, I spent a short time working on a public transport project with the local authorities in Durham and Darlington and "the bus smells" was a common reason given for not using public transport. There was serious consideration given to a 'how would you like your bus to smell?' competition, with public suggesting favourite smells and us then paying for air fresheners to be installed on buses. It never happened, but would be interesting for TOCs to try and take this on....

 

[Howardh]

One bad smell is the damp on TPE trains when, in winter, everyone gets on wet when raining, and the cold air-con (which shouldn't be on, but that's another story) only partially dries everyone off and you get this rancid damp smell and feel in the carriage.

I have enough digs at Northern so I'll gladly post that they're much better at heating the carriages when the windows are closed and the heater's on full blast.

 

[83G/84D]

Anyone "gone commando" on a train, men or women?!!

 

[ExRes]

If they're soiling the train then they can be removed. If they suffer from absolutely stinking then no, I don't believe they can be, would be, or even should be. If there is an issue then people should say so.

What would you say and to whom would you say it ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What would you say and to whom would you say it ?

You must have missed the middle section of my posting # 12 on the thread, where I asked the same question.

 

[L&Y Robert]

A modern 'stink' phenomenon comes from some of the more virulent "freshness" additives to washing powder, fabric conditioners and the like. I sat nest to a chap (had to - grab a seat whilst you can!) ex Marylebone to Banbury whose clothes must have had the full treatment. It lingered on my own clothes all the rest of the day, and in my hair, and somehow in the back of my nose as well. My son (a chemist) tells me that the 'stink' molecule in these products is specially designed to latch on to colloids - that's the natural fibres in clothes. And don't get me started on so-called "Air fresheners" - Heaven help us if any TOC decides to pu them in trains - back to the car then, I fear.

 

[ExRes]

You must have missed the middle section of my posting # 12 on the thread, where I asked the same question.

My apologies, will either of us get an answer though ?