How often are quiet coaches actually quiet?

[Warrior2852]

How often do people find that the quiet coach (or equivalent for companies that like to give things different names) actually lives up to its name and is quiet(er)?
I'm on an LNER train at the moment and it is actually quite nice at the moment in the quiet coach, but last few times I've been in one it hasn't been the case, including a particularly eventful CrossCountry journey a few weeks ago where the "quiet" coach had two rowdy groups at the table seats and a screaming child for half the ECML!

 

[Bletchleyite]

How often do people find that the quiet coach (or equivalent for companies that like to give things different names) actually lives up to its name and is quiet(er)?
I'm on an LNER train at the moment and it is actually quite nice at the moment in the quiet coach, but last few times I've been in one it hasn't been the case, including a particularly eventful CrossCountry journey a few weeks ago where the "quiet" coach had two rowdy groups at the table seats and a screaming child for half the ECML!

Increasingly not. The idea either needs to be dropped entirely or there need to be clear "house rules" displayed on what means quiet and these need to be proactively enforced by staff.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've never seen one enforced except on one occasion about a month ago - when it was an irate woman passenger on a Waterloo to Weymouth service getting up to aggressively shush anyone and everyone who made even the slightest noise.

I do not know if she has subsequently been hospitalised...

 

[Warrior2852]

Increasingly not. The idea either needs to be dropped entirely or there need to be clear "house rules" displayed on what means quiet and these need to be proactively enforced by staff.

Some operators I note do attempt to list  some degree of rules (like no phone calls, use headphones etc.) but it's usually in too small a font for people to notice unless you're actively trying to read it. And of course, they never enforce them.
Other operators the signs are barely visible at all, LNER you have to squint quite a bit to see the words "Quieter Coach" unless you're right next to the sign.

 

[DarloRich]

Rarely are they quiet. Rarely is anyone challenged although last weekend a rather formidable older lady challenged a younger lady about her phone use.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Rarely are they quiet. Rarely is anyone challenged although last weekend a rather formidable older lady challenged a younger lady about her phone use.

I did once request a family turned off the tablets they were playing out loud or moved to another coach. They decided to move (the train wasn't busy so goodness knows why they were even there). This drew applause, which wasn't quiet

Personally I'd rather, on long trains like Pendolinos, see a dedicated family coach where family-related noise e.g. playing stuff out loud on tablets is actively permitted, with e.g. more tables and maybe a play area. That would contain it more voluntarily, as most of this sort of nuisance is families.

 

[BrianW]

I'm still irritated by a 'lout'. Only me in the Quiet Coach- he gets in, gets loudly on the phone. I 'chance my arm' by pointing to the sign; response a round of invective and if I'm bothered why don't I move. A lot to be said for the quiet life, indeed life. No-one, including crew, obliged to put their life on the line.

 

[zwk500]

Personally I'd rather, on long trains like Pendolinos, see a dedicated family coach where family-related noise e.g. playing stuff out loud on tablets is actively permitted, with e.g. more tables and maybe a play area. That would contain it more voluntarily, as most of this sort of nuisance is families.

Didn't Chiltern have this for a while (they may still do?) I personally think it's a great idea to have a 'loud' coach or two.

 

[Warrior2852]

Personally I'd rather, on long trains like Pendolinos, see a dedicated family coach where family-related noise e.g. playing stuff out loud on tablets is actively permitted, with e.g. more tables and maybe a play area. That would contain it more voluntarily, as most of this sort of nuisance is families.

Europe does this sometimes, in Switzerland the SBB double deckers often have a family coach (helpfully marked by the livery having some cute animals on the side of that coach), it works quite well for giving families a place to go for journeys with young children.

 

[rower40]

Given the preponderance of under-floor engines, I find the only quiet coaches are the ones where I’m wearing my noise-cancelling headphones.

 

[SussexSeagull]

I did once request a family turned off the tablets they were playing out loud or moved to another coach. They decided to move (the train wasn't busy so goodness knows why they were even there). This drew applause, which wasn't quiet

Personally I'd rather, on long trains like Pendolinos, see a dedicated family coach where family-related noise e.g. playing stuff out loud on tablets is actively permitted, with e.g. more tables and maybe a play area. That would contain it more voluntarily, as most of this sort of nuisance is families.

Good on you but I wouldn't expect that sort of behaviour in a 'normal' coach!

 

[Peter0124]

Yes I agree with the idea of a family coach on longer distance trains like Pendolinos and Azumas, with dedicated spaces for prams too. I am surprised no operator actually has dedicated pram spaces.

 

[island]

I used to carry and proffer Poundland earbuds for the people who "forgot" their headphones.

Nowadays a lot of devices don't have the necessary socket any more of course...

 

[Bikeman78]

I did once request a family turned off the tablets they were playing out loud or moved to another coach. They decided to move (the train wasn't busy so goodness knows why they were even there). This drew applause, which wasn't quiet

Personally I'd rather, on long trains like Pendolinos, see a dedicated family coach where family-related noise e.g. playing stuff out loud on tablets is actively permitted, with e.g. more tables and maybe a play area. That would contain it more voluntarily, as most of this sort of nuisance is families.

In my experience, plenty of adults are happy to play garbage out loud on their phones. I insist my kids wear headphones or switch off the sound when playing on their tablets. Same applies at home.

 

[Taunton]

Could it be arranged that Quiet Coaches don't have "See it say it ..." messages boomed out every few minutes?

 

[BrianW]

Yes I agree with the idea of a family coach on longer distance trains like Pendolinos and Azumas, with dedicated spaces for prams too. I am surprised no operator actually has dedicated pram spaces.

So, a quiet coach, a family coach, first class, catering, luggage, prams, bikes, toilets, accessibility, IT ... all in a four-coach XC! Just sayin' ...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good on you but I wouldn't expect that sort of behaviour in a 'normal' coach!

I seem to recall saying something like "really guys, you shouldn't be playing stuff out loud in any coach, let alone the quiet coach" and them getting up and leaving.

So, a quiet coach, a family coach, first class, catering, luggage, prams, bikes, toilets, accessibility, IT ... all in a four-coach XC! Just sayin' ...

Who said XC? I was talking about an 11 car Pendolino.

Voyagers are too short for InterCity trains, we know.

 

[ExRes]

With all the noise going on in the 'quiet coach' how can anyone be expected to hear the announcements telling them to keep the noise down?

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

How often do people find that the quiet coach (or equivalent for companies that like to give things different names) actually lives up to its name and is quiet(er)?
I'm on an LNER train at the moment and it is actually quite nice at the moment in the quiet coach, but last few times I've been in one it hasn't been the case, including a particularly eventful CrossCountry journey a few weeks ago where the "quiet" coach had two rowdy groups at the table seats and a screaming child for half the ECML!

On CrossCountry services only the HST's have a Quiet Coach - Coach G.

 

[unlevel42]

Quiet coaches are too often populated by stressed out people, whose 'tutting', 'glancing', 'groaning' and 'moaning' irritate everybody else and not the person(s) who irritates them. I regularly travel with an autistic person who finds the behaviour of the these people far more difficult to deal with than the regular noise created by passengers.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Quiet coaches are too often populated by stressed out people, whose 'tutting', 'glancing', 'groaning' and 'moaning' irritate everybody else and not the person(s) who irritates them. I regularly travel with an autistic person who finds the behaviour of the these people far more difficult to deal with than the regular noise created by passengers.

Then sit in a normal coach.

 

[unlevel42]

Then sit in a normal coach.

Which of course we do.

 

[Llanigraham]

I get the impression from reading this that people expect the "quiet" coach to be one where there is NO noise, no conversations, or anything and to be totally silent. I always understood that it was only mobile phones and listening to music/sounds without headphones that was banned.

 

[Master29]

Quiet coaches are too often populated by stressed out people, whose 'tutting', 'glancing', 'groaning' and 'moaning' irritate everybody else and not the person(s) who irritates them. I regularly travel with an autistic person who finds the behaviour of the these people far more difficult to deal with than the regular noise created by passengers.

That's a bit of a generalisation. Why should I have to listen to some bod wittering on about keeping the figures down or what they`ve put on their latest me me I`m the best page as well as the usual. Pick me up at 4 from the station out loud so everyone knows they're leaving. Time to plan a round of applause. I put up with it and generally most people are OK but in a quiet car I shouldn't have to. As to weekends forget it. It would be quieter with a night of the living dead than train travel in a quiet coach. It's a gobshxts free for all.

 

[SteveyBee131]

So, a quiet coach, a family coach, first class, catering, luggage, prams, bikes, toilets, accessibility, IT ... all in a four-coach XC! Just sayin' ...

That or even a 5 coach Azuma/Nova/IET etc! Short trains don't leave much space for good ideas!

 

[Bletchleyite]

That or even a 5 coach Azuma/Nova/IET etc! Short trains don't leave much space for good ideas!

Short trains on long distance routes are almost invariably a bad idea, of course, this is yet another reason why!

 

[BrianW]

Who said XC? I was talking about an 11 car Pendolino.

Voyagers are too short for InterCity trains, we know.

I did- to exemplify the difficulty of meeting the range of demands, esp in current circumstances,as you rightly recognise regarding 'long distance trains'

 

[william.martin]

I was on a voyager quiet coach blasting along the WCML to Telford in 2018 and as far as Wolverhampton I had a person in the seat behind me who was practically shouting down the phone the entire time

 

[350401]

I think it depends on passengers for enforcement, both in terms of sticking to the rules, and asking others to be reasonable and stick to the rules. However, it's a balance between over zealous enforcement so that's it's like a monastery, and just giving up all together. On my last trip in the Avanti Quiet Coach last week, there were a few couples, who were talking but in reasonable tones - personally, that doesn't bother me. However, a loud "business" type decided to spend the trip discussing his views on his companies management, on loud speaker - like he was in the Apprentice. After 10 minutes of this, I politely asked him to move to the vestibule, and pointed out the (small) signs. He verbally called me an arse to his colleague, but then hung up. I think more signage about what's expected would help - e.g. "No phone calls, Tablets on silent" etc would also help.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think more signage about what's expected would help - e.g. "No phone calls, Tablets on silent" etc would also help.

I think the railway needs more of this kind of "house rules" signage generally. Conflict between passengers is avoided by clearly stating expectations.

For instance:
"If the reservation displays are not working, seat reservations do not apply"
"If there is a dispute on the position of the window, it should be closed"*
"Mobile telephones must not be used to make calls in the quiet coach, and all devices with speakers must be muted"
"Music, television programmes or any other audio from electronic devices must not be played out loud in any part of the train"
Etc.

* This one is common in France.