Trivia: unwritten etiquette as a railway passenger

[Ediswan]

Unwritten etiquette...

....if on the Caledonian Sleeper and the dining car is very short staffed, please don't spend 5mins grilling the sole member of staff about his personal menu recommendations when there are ten other people waiting to order!

I was briefly thinking 'of course not, it will not be cooked'.

 

[TUC]

Unwritten etiquette...

....if on the Caledonian Sleeper and the dining car is very short staffed, please don't spend 5mins grilling the sole member of staff about his personal menu recommendations when there are ten other people waiting to order!

Instead let the staff get on with grilling the sole.

 

[william.martin]

1) This has zero relevance to the post you quoted, and;
2) I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the majority of... exposure incidents like that you describe are not caused by the person simply not bothering to lock the door.

1) Am I allowed to make mistakes?
2) I have been traveling on railways for donkeys years and I know what some peoples attitudes are ( thinking "it is a quiet train and nobody will come")

1) Am I allowed to make mistakes?
2) I have been traveling on railways for donkeys years and I know what some peoples attitudes are ( thinking "it is a quiet train and nobody will come")

Whoops didn't mean to send, let me correct myslef

 

[TUC]

As I saw on a train last week, what is unhelpful is passengers on a busy train who insist on crowding together around the doors, causing the guard to mistakenly think the train was full and so declining entry to other passengers, when actually there was more room if those on board would simply move down the aisles.

 

[william.martin]

1) Am I allowed to make mistakes?
2) I have been traveling on railways for donkeys years and I know what some peoples attitudes are ( thinking "it is a quiet train and nobody will come")

1) Am I allowed to accidentally make a mistake?

2) I have been traveling on railways for donkeys years and I know what some peoples attitudes are ( thinking "it is a quiet train and nobody will come".) I appreciate that the majority of people don't have this unadvisable attitude however there are clearly ones that do, I have experienced this multiple times.

I did find out that on the 172 the door look was faulty.

 

[NSE]

A dog with no symptoms, whether nicely groomed and accompanying the right sort of owner, or not, can be carrying, in its fur, live eggs of toxocara canis if it has not been treated which includes regular deworming. Humans can be infected by this roundworm, a condition called toxocariasis, just by stroking an infected dog's fur and accidentally ingesting infective eggs that may be present on the dog's fur. When humans ingest infective eggs, diseases like hepatomegaly, myocarditis, respiratory failure and vision problems can result depending on where the larva are deposited in the body. In humans, this parasite usually grows in the back of the eye, which can result in blindness, or in the liver or lungs.

I wouldn't want to touch, or sit on, a seat on which someone's dog has been.

Yeah, slight over exaggeration here. After all, you don’t know what diseases the public may have. And if symptomless, travelling with. I shall repeat my point, I’m not suggesting dogs travel on seats, or every train, merely pointing out we have blanket rules/assumptions of etiquette but actually, sometimes people can be breaking those rules/unspoken assumptions and be far more civil than those not. In this instance, yes, I would understand and agree that dogs shouldn’t be sat on seats, but, I’m merely pointing out (slightly tongue in cheek), I’ve seen human beings on trains in such an unpleasant state, I’d be quite happy sitting next to a clean dog.

 

[yorksrob]

Do not break wind while occupying a compartment with a stranger. Go into the corridor to do it.

 

[WizCastro197]

Do not break wind while occupying a compartment with a stranger. Go into the corridor to do it.

If it is with multiple strangers, then it’s fine, as they won’t know it was you.

 

[yorksrob]

If it is with multiple strangers, then it’s fine, as they won’t know it was you.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that !

 

[Facing Back]

Ah, I hadn't thought of that !

unless you cock your leg and give a satisfied sigh or high five

 

[al78]

The trouble with opening windows is that the person who opens them does not have to suffer the draught as it is usually someone further down the train who might be perfectly comfortable with the train environment.
Perhaps you should off offered to swap places with her.

The trouble with not opening windows is that someone might be suffering from the heat.

Many years ago one of my bridge partners who was in a vulnerable condition healthwise and was very vulnerable to high temperatures was playing in the local bridge club in summer in which the playing area is a long narrow room with windows along one side only which face west, so they get the summer sun blasting in all afternoon. The room temperature was 30C and he was feeling unwell so got up and opened a window. Before he managed to sit back down a woman had got up and closed it. Due to the way duplicate bridge works he was stuck in this room and its very hot stuffy conditions for the rest of the evening. At the end of play he felt unwell enough to drive to the local hospital where he was examined by a doctor, who asked him what the hell he'd been doing, his blood pressure was sky high, and if he got into that condition again he was in serious danger of a stroke. He resigned his membership of that bridge club shortly after.

 

[Mikey C]

If it is with multiple strangers, then it’s fine, as they won’t know it was you.

He who smelt it, dealt it

 

[TurbineEnginee]

Alternatively, if someone has a backpack on, give them room to manoeuvre. If it's a big backpack, trying to take it off in a crowded area will whack more people than just keeping it on.
It's a bit like those stickers on the backs of articulated lorries that say: "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you". Keep out of my blind-spot and you'll be fine.

Already covered but it’s your responsibility not to inconvenience others because you chose to keep something on your back.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Already covered but it’s your responsibility not to inconvenience others because you chose to keep something on your back.

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

 

[zwk500]

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

It's polite to give the backpack more room, but it's still the responsibility of the person wearing it not to hit anybody with it. If that means pausing and asking for space, so be it.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Not sure if mentioned before but on a busy train, young children to be sat on parent's laps rather than occupying seats needed by fare-paying adults. Really annoys me on the buses too

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not sure if mentioned before but on a busy train, children to be sat on parent's laps rather than occupying seats needed by fare-paying adults. Really annoys me on the buses too

Hmm… I’m not sure. Depends how big the child is. Unreasonable to expect that if they’re fairly big/tall/heavy.

 

[Taunton]

Not sure if mentioned before but on a busy train, children to be sat on parent's laps rather than occupying seats needed by fare-paying adults. Really annoys me on the buses too

This one seems to have changed over time. Older hands here will certainly be familiar with that, but nowadays, if you offer your seat to mum and child, it's now invariably the child who is sat on the seat and the mother continues to stand. In all truth, it's extremely uncomfortable to ride in a vehicle with a child on top of you.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's polite to give the backpack more room, but it's still the responsibility of the person wearing it not to hit anybody with it. If that means pausing and asking for space, so be it.

Again though- I'm not going to know to ask if you're in a blind spot and I've no idea you're there.

You're not giving me space to benefit me, you're doing it to avoid getting accidentally whacked. People need to take a bit of personal responsibility for their own safety, not expect people who aren't even aware of their very existence to bow, scrape, and apologise.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Hmm… I’m not sure. Depends how big the child is. Unreasonable to expect that if they’re fairly big/tall/heavy.

Post edited - meant to say young/small children

 

[zwk500]

Again though- I'm not going to know to ask if you're in a blind spot and I've no idea you're there.

You're not giving me space to benefit me, you're doing it to avoid getting accidentally whacked. People need to take a bit of personal responsibility for their own safety, not expect people who aren't even aware of their very existence to bow, scrape, and apologise.

Part of having big and bulky bags is being aware of the space around you. You are aware you have blind spots, so move yourself and check them first.
People do need to take personal responsibility but equally people need to take social responsibility and not expect people to jump out of their way without warning.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Part of having big and bulky bags is being aware of the space around you. You are aware you have blind spots, so move yourself and check them first.
People do need to take personal responsibility but equally people need to take social responsibility and not expect people to jump out of their way without warning.

Part of moving in crowded spaces in general is being aware of your surroundings, I agree. I just object to all the responsibility being placed on one party, and being expected to be able to see around corners before moving in a perfectly natural fashion.

One advantage of rucksacks is that they leave your hands free, so you don't have to stop to operate ticket barriers and cause a big pile-up behind you.

 

[AM9]

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

A wheeled suitcase isn't a "hidden hazard" to those that look where they are putting their feet. If there is a gap immediately behind somebody in a moving crowd, it might be helpful if those further back gave a though as to why rather than pushing the person immediately behind the suitcase forward.

 

[duncanp]

Part of moving in crowded spaces in general is being aware of your surroundings, I agree. I just object to all the responsibility being placed on one party, and being expected to be able to see around corners before moving in a perfectly natural fashion.

One advantage of rucksacks is that they leave your hands free, so you don't have to stop to operate ticket barriers and cause a big pile-up behind you.

I agree with you that, whilst the wearer of a rucksack has a responsibility to try not to hit people with it, it is also the responsibility of those without a rucksack not to stand too close.

 

[greyman42]

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

If i have a rucksack i remove it before i board the train and carry it. Much easier than trying to remove it in the aisle.

 

[xotGD]

I recall the use of the term "snails" to refer to passengers with enormous rucksacks on their backs.

A total menace - whacking everything and everyone within a 2m radius.

 

[Ken H]

If i have a rucksack i remove it before i board the train and carry it. Much easier than trying to remove it in the aisle.

Why would you not do that?
You see people on the tube sitting with their rucksac on with it between their back and the seat back. Just why??

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If i have a rucksack i remove it before i board the train and carry it. Much easier than trying to remove it in the aisle.

If I recall, in the post that revived this rucksack discussion from months ago I was talking about navigating around stations, not on board trains. I agree that taking it off before boarding is usually the best option- unless you're on London Overground where it just stays on.

I recall the use of the term "snails" to refer to passengers with enormous rucksacks on their backs.

A total menace - whacking everything and everyone within a 2m radius.

Does that make those without rucksacks "slugs"?

 

[SteveyBee131]

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

Again though- I'm not going to know to ask if you're in a blind spot and I've no idea you're there.

You're not giving me space to benefit me, you're doing it to avoid getting accidentally whacked. People need to take a bit of personal responsibility for their own safety, not expect people who aren't even aware of their very existence to bow, scrape, and apologise.

I occasionally travel with a rucksack (though not a huge one) and I'm with you. Yes I have eyes, but I don't have mirrors or periscopes, nor should I need them! I do have common sense, and it tells me that I need extra space to move when I have my rucksack on, if someone gets in that space, and/or my blindspots, they didn't listen to common sense!

 

[Runningaround]

Sorry but no- if you follow me too closely, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result. If I (or anyone else) has a big rucksack on it's your responsibility to not be in their way by hiding in a blind-spot. In return I'll do my best to keep the "swing" to a minimum. A rucksack isn't a "hidden hazard" unlike those stupid wheeled suitcases.

Yes, I'll die on this hill!

If you swing yourself around in say a pub and knock the drinks on a table over you will be expected to replace them. Alternatively you could take your backpack off first and carry it in front of you and do this before you enter same as on a bus train.