Birmingham
Member
Quite, crying and screaming babies and noisy children on trains shouldn’t be so socially acceptable imo. But it seems these days, anything goes.
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Trivia: unwritten etiquette as a railway passenger
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Falcon1200
Established Member
I do indeed regularly stand with my bike in a doorway. Why? Because inconsiderate passengers are blocking the cycle space! I know which side every platform is on the routes I take my bike and move across when necessary.
godfreycomplex
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- 23 Jun 2016
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What annoys me is
People who eat and drink on trains. Ever. And people who have eaten or drink before they get on. Ever. In their lives. You either exist through the processing and consumption of foods and liquids or you get the train. Make a choice.
If you’ve reserved a seat, for God’s sake take it home with you. Got on an Azuma the other day and the filthy buggers had left over 300 on it. Makes me sick.
The Penge West Feather Duster Bandits (though their numbers have been thinned out by first to last gatelines)
Staff pass holders who travel in the passenger accommodation instead of sprawled on the front of the train like Buster Keaton WHERE THEY BELONG
Guards on the South WCML who never come out of the middle cab but spend the whole time lying recumbent on the driver’s seat sniffing a loaf of stale bread and mumbling segments of the songs of Showaddywaddy to themselves
People who have an on train seance and don’t wipe up the ectoplasm after them
People who disrespect the atmosphere of the quiet carriage! Honestly is it so hard to do your sacrificial chants to Lucifer in the vestibule?! And they ALWAYS do them in a guttural East Midlands accent it just sounds so wrong!! Satanism was aspirational in my day now it’s all “come out your eternal pit me duck”. Kids….
When people turn round with large bags they always leave the zips open and artefacts come flying out, I was at Salford Crescent the other week and this inconsiderate LOUT caught a nice old lady in the face with the Holy Grail, you never used to see this before the 319s came in, bloody northern powerhouse
That thing you have to do on Class 323s with the duck and the xylophone just to be able to get past the Gatekeeper and sit down, I won’t even write it out here but honestly I’d rather get the bus
The endless chirpy but damaging voice I hear in the toilets of Pendolinos (namely my conscience telling me an exhaustive list of all the social faux pas I made when I was 14)
That nobody at Euston ticket office will sell me a ticket for this mythical train called the “Pizza Express” I’ve heard so much about
When people are sat in the seat someone else reserved and they just dissolve into stardust and are shifted outside the astral plane as the passenger who has stolen their seat absorb their consciousness and memories, leaving a withered husk of their corporeal vessel in the aisle that is really hard for the trolley attendant to get past
Sensory stimulation on trains. It shouldn’t be socially acceptable to have such damaging intrusions on my senses. Literally all the way to Glasgow one year I was touching something pretty much the whole time. I stripped naked and jumped up in the air a few times but it didn’t last. Unacceptable.
People who eat and drink on trains. Ever. And people who have eaten or drink before they get on. Ever. In their lives. You either exist through the processing and consumption of foods and liquids or you get the train. Make a choice.
If you’ve reserved a seat, for God’s sake take it home with you. Got on an Azuma the other day and the filthy buggers had left over 300 on it. Makes me sick.
The Penge West Feather Duster Bandits (though their numbers have been thinned out by first to last gatelines)
Staff pass holders who travel in the passenger accommodation instead of sprawled on the front of the train like Buster Keaton WHERE THEY BELONG
Guards on the South WCML who never come out of the middle cab but spend the whole time lying recumbent on the driver’s seat sniffing a loaf of stale bread and mumbling segments of the songs of Showaddywaddy to themselves
People who have an on train seance and don’t wipe up the ectoplasm after them
People who disrespect the atmosphere of the quiet carriage! Honestly is it so hard to do your sacrificial chants to Lucifer in the vestibule?! And they ALWAYS do them in a guttural East Midlands accent it just sounds so wrong!! Satanism was aspirational in my day now it’s all “come out your eternal pit me duck”. Kids….
When people turn round with large bags they always leave the zips open and artefacts come flying out, I was at Salford Crescent the other week and this inconsiderate LOUT caught a nice old lady in the face with the Holy Grail, you never used to see this before the 319s came in, bloody northern powerhouse
That thing you have to do on Class 323s with the duck and the xylophone just to be able to get past the Gatekeeper and sit down, I won’t even write it out here but honestly I’d rather get the bus
The endless chirpy but damaging voice I hear in the toilets of Pendolinos (namely my conscience telling me an exhaustive list of all the social faux pas I made when I was 14)
That nobody at Euston ticket office will sell me a ticket for this mythical train called the “Pizza Express” I’ve heard so much about
When people are sat in the seat someone else reserved and they just dissolve into stardust and are shifted outside the astral plane as the passenger who has stolen their seat absorb their consciousness and memories, leaving a withered husk of their corporeal vessel in the aisle that is really hard for the trolley attendant to get past
Sensory stimulation on trains. It shouldn’t be socially acceptable to have such damaging intrusions on my senses. Literally all the way to Glasgow one year I was touching something pretty much the whole time. I stripped naked and jumped up in the air a few times but it didn’t last. Unacceptable.
JBuchananGB
Established Member
One of my most memorable journeys dates back to early 1980, when the Persil company had a promotion allowing one railway ticket free when one was purchased. So I bought one 1st class return from Witham to Cheltenham for a weekend visit to my sister. I was of course accompanied by my wife, and 3 daughters all aged less than 5 years. They would have been 3 years, 18 months, and 3 months approx. Equipment included a double buggy and a carry-cot. And of course appropriate luggage. At Witham we joined a 1st class compartment, where the sole occupant, a well-to-do lady welcomed us. Travel to Cheltenham, using the Circle line to Paddington, changing at Swindon was fairly uneventful. The 1st class area in whatever DMU it was that took us from Swindon the Cheltenham was up front behind the driver.
The return trip was more fun, and may touch on the question etiquette. It was a tight connection at Swindon, so we had to board the HST at the back in the Standard Class area and walk through to 1st class. I remember having the carry-cot with baby in front of me and towing the folded double buggy behind me. Fortunately in 1st class we found a table free with seats for 4. Having stowed the equipment, it was difficult to prevent the 2 older girls from running up and down the carriage. Businessmen were working and reading their papers. (No laptops or phones in those days). It became necessary for my wife to breast feed the baby.
The train manager entered the carriage at the far end and started checking the tickets. I had the distinct sense that the other 1st class travellers were thinking "this will sort them out"! Of course I was able to present my valid paid for 1st class ticket, and the associated complimentary (courtesy of Persil) 1st class ticket, so our journey was not disrupted.
Do you think there were any breaches of etiquette?
The return trip was more fun, and may touch on the question etiquette. It was a tight connection at Swindon, so we had to board the HST at the back in the Standard Class area and walk through to 1st class. I remember having the carry-cot with baby in front of me and towing the folded double buggy behind me. Fortunately in 1st class we found a table free with seats for 4. Having stowed the equipment, it was difficult to prevent the 2 older girls from running up and down the carriage. Businessmen were working and reading their papers. (No laptops or phones in those days). It became necessary for my wife to breast feed the baby.
The train manager entered the carriage at the far end and started checking the tickets. I had the distinct sense that the other 1st class travellers were thinking "this will sort them out"! Of course I was able to present my valid paid for 1st class ticket, and the associated complimentary (courtesy of Persil) 1st class ticket, so our journey was not disrupted.
Do you think there were any breaches of etiquette?
Birmingham
Member
I would say your children running up and down the carriage, but I know many people don’t see childrens’ behaviour on board as a problem.
Purple Train
Established Member
If you're sitting in the vestibule on a Class 745, let someone who's making their way to the doors through, rather than carrying on stretching your legs and creating a narrow gap and trip hazard for the person trying to get out.
This has made my day!!!! Thank you for making me laugh uncontrollably (not on a train thank goodness!)
godfreycomplex
Established Member
- Joined
- 23 Jun 2016
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- 1,502
Delighted to oblige
Totally agree, but what is #godfreycomplex on?
If you're not in the quiet coach, not really an issue in my opinion. It's public transport, you can't expect silence. Depending on the type of train, there may be literally nowhere you can take a crying baby to stay out the way of other passengers. If you find noises regularly cause you distress, you should mitigate that by taking actions yourself - such as bringing noise cancelling headphones with you.
Mikey C
Established Member
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- 11 Feb 2013
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Exactly.
By wearing the rucksack on a confined space, there's a very good chance you will whack someone with it when you move (whether deliberately or accidentally). And you'll probably be blocking the aisle too. You can step over a bag on the floor, you can't get past one at chest high.
What about rucksack wearers not paying attention?Again, that would be more inconvenient for both the carrier and everyone around them. They'll be slower and more of a hindrance. Just be aware of how they'll move, just as how if you're a cyclist you need to be aware of how large vehicles behave when making turns.
I'm going to start taking my large rucksack even if I don't need it, just to see how many people I can "whack" because they were impatient or not paying attention.
It's good practice for a member of onboard staff to do this in every case of customers needing to be in the correct portion of a train (for short platforms or before a train divides). Obviously this is only where it's physically possible to move through the train, and where they have enough time between stations, but between Leeds and Horsforth there generally would be enough time to walk through the rear coaches which won't be on the platform.
Neither am I, and my group and I love invading solo travellers on tables, getting out lots of beer and snacks to munch and slurp and converse loudly.
I don't actually mind it myself, I occasionally solo occupy tables to work, but I don't spread my crap out everywhere to prevent other people from sitting down with me if they wish to as you so often see
It's more the fact that it actually did happen in the quiet coach on Avanti, so we ended up moving. Just find it a bit odd babies/young children are allowed in the quiet coach knowing how much noise they can make.
Its also the same reason why I'm against the idea of open gangways in every coach (ie being able to hear people from other coaches) but I guess you can't get everything your way.
High Dyke
Established Member
The wife mentions this, when she's getting off the train she has just worked. They usually get a curt (and loud) excuse me! Me. I just barge my way through the 'sheep' whilst pointing out their lack of consideration.
Neither am I, and my group and I love invading solo travellers on tables, getting out lots of beer and snacks to munch and slurp and converse loudly.
I don't actually mind it myself, I occasionally solo occupy tables to work, but I don't spread my crap out everywhere to prevent other people from sitting down with me if they wish to as you so often see
I prefer to occupy a two seat bay, if a single seat unit isn't available/vacant. Now, if you're getting the beer and snacks out, then feel free to offer them round. 
Birmingham
Member
Sounds rather malicious, though I gather that’s the point. As a solo traveller, I’ll choose a table only if I think the train will remain quiet enough to keep it to myself for the duration of my journey, e.g. 6am train on a Saturday. If the train is busy or may become busy en route I’ll take a window, airline seat.
Sometimes I get the judgement wrong but I mean no malice and in which case I’d rather move anyway than become surrounded by a group.
172006
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- 29 May 2019
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- 63
There isn't always a solution that works for everyone, but there's a difference between loud music or speakerphone (which the passenger chose to put on) and unavoidable noise. What should a mum do if she needs to travel by train to take her baby to an appointment, and the constant crying may well be related to what the appointment is for!
Well to be fair, part of the fun of travelling as part of a group is to be able to socialise en route - we don't really talk loudly in a malicious, that was a bit tongue in cheek, but we do certainly like a drink and some food and if we open a bottle and have an extra cup I personally will always offer to share with someone sitting with us, and have also been on the receiving end of being offered cans etc by football fans.
What I do hate is people attempting to lay sole claim to accommodation for 4 - I know from working on board trains for years there are many reasons to want a proper table - but those who resent sharing are fair game to me!
Etiquette which seems to be very much lacking nowadays, watch your language when sat near families with young children. It’s got to the point where I very rarely take my young kids on main line trains as it’s virtually impossible to go anywhere without hearing constant effing (and worse).
Birmingham
Member
Drive?
So we should encourage people to drive rather than use the train, because their kids might make a bit of noise during the journey. Seriously?
py_megapixel
Established Member
To be fair, you would probably hear worse on the average secondary school playground.
I wouldn't say non-stop crying/screaming is a bit of noise, however. It can be distressing to listen to. Would an enforced ban on young children in the quiet coach go down well?
Not treated as a harsh ban though, more the train manager finds the familes with crying babies/kids seats elsewhere or upgrades them into Standard Premium if necessary.
py_megapixel
Established Member
Well, they could start by enforcing the ban on noise in the quiet coach!
Or, in the case of CrossCountry, having long enough trains so that they can reasonably have a quiet coach on them in the first place!
True, I’m not saying it didn’t happen back then but it seems much more common now. It doesn’t bother me personally but does wind me up when I’ve got the kids with me.
Purple Train
Established Member
So is the fact that standards are declining in the playground justification for letting standards decline everywhere else?
Birmingham
Member
I like your first bit, but I don’t think Standard Premium is the place for it either!
You would and at that age it wouldn’t bother me so much but as my youngest is 3 and copying every new word she hears I’d rather wait a few years before she asks “Daddy what’s a f****** c***?”
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