Items you think should be BANNED which are aren't currently

[PTR 444]

Is the legalization of these devices actually an inevitability?

I think so in the medium term, but would definitely need regulation in order to prevent unsafe and counterfeit models entering the market.

 

[rf_ioliver]

How about grumpy old men

So far I think this thread has suggested banning everything that the writer doesn't like.

Bikes -- dedicated space would solve a lot of problems *and* encourage people to use bikes. Maybe better provisioning for bikes at stations too?
Dogs -- not a problem, *if* well behaved. If you have a dog, then train it.
Children -- come on, this is starting to get silly now...what next, you can only travel if over a certain age? 18, 21, 25? I've taken my kids on longhaul flights when they were very young...invariably behaved better than those who were complaining about kids on flights.
Baggage -- there should be limit, but we're not talking about aircraft style restrictions with some very extreme ideas...but what should the limit be? Do you want to ban people taking suitcases?
Alchohol -- maybe ... nothing wrong with a beer after a long day/trip or with a meal. Can I bring a bottle of whiskey? THis is more about anti-social behaviour.

There are edge cases...can I bring my herd of bully dogs, 6 suitcases and a bottle of vodka to consume...probably not. Most of the above are more related to society, respect and basic manners than anything else.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Other than in extremis I don't see a need for baggage limits as such. Because of the nature of the railway people can't really take more than they can carry anyway.

Alcohol is probably the most likely one to be banned, given that it's already banned on a few TOCs and on specific problem trains. Though I don't really see a massive need to do so.

 

[trebor79]

I don't think anything presently allowed on trains should be banned. I would however like to see one existing ban strictly and proactively enforced, though - the playing out loud of electronic devices.

Agree. I was on an AWC train from Preston to London last week. A well dressed couple got on at Crewe or somewhere and sat behind me. She has a vacuuous phone call for a few minutes, then proceeds to watch some dreadful beauty infomercials on her phone out loud. After 15 minutes I couldn't take it any longer (the preenter had a particularly annoying way of pronouncing her S's), turned round and asked if she'd mind using headphones as it's a bit antisocial to play it to everyone around. "But I don't have any headphones". I asked her politely to consider watching it another time in that case. There was huffing and puffing but it was turned off. Hubbie just glared at me which I ignored.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agree. I was on an AWC train from Preston to London last week. A well dressed couple got on at Crewe or somewhere and sat behind me. She has a vacuuous phone call for a few minutes, then proceeds to watch some dreadful beauty infomercials on her phone out loud. After 15 minutes I couldn't take it any longer (the preenter had a particularly annoying way of pronouncing her S's), turned round and asked if she'd mind using headphones as it's a bit antisocial to play it to everyone around. "But I don't have any headphones". I asked her politely to consider watching it another time in that case. There was huffing and puffing but it was turned off. Hubbie just glared at me which I ignored.

I think the move to Bluetooth headphones is partly the issue - they cost much more than a £5 pair of Sonys from Argos you would have just in case. So people don't have them, so it seems to have become the norm to play rubbish out loud.

 

[miklcct]

How about grumpy old men

So far I think this thread has suggested banning everything that the writer doesn't like.

Bikes -- dedicated space would solve a lot of problems *and* encourage people to use bikes. Maybe better provisioning for bikes at stations too?
Dogs -- not a problem, *if* well behaved. If you have a dog, then train it.
Children -- come on, this is starting to get silly now...what next, you can only travel if over a certain age? 18, 21, 25? I've taken my kids on longhaul flights when they were very young...invariably behaved better than those who were complaining about kids on flights.
Baggage -- there should be limit, but we're not talking about aircraft style restrictions with some very extreme ideas...but what should the limit be? Do you want to ban people taking suitcases?
Alchohol -- maybe ... nothing wrong with a beer after a long day/trip or with a meal. Can I bring a bottle of whiskey? THis is more about anti-social behaviour.

There are edge cases...can I bring my herd of bully dogs, 6 suitcases and a bottle of vodka to consume...probably not. Most of the above are more related to society, respect and basic manners than anything else.

How about consuming food and drink? This is also banned in Hong Kong but not in the UK. I am not in favour of banning consuming food and drink but, if this is banned, will our trains be as clean as those in Hong Kong?

 

[alxndr]

I think the move to Bluetooth headphones is partly the issue - they cost much more than a £5 pair of Sonys from Argos you would have just in case. So people don't have them, so it seems to have become the norm to play rubbish out loud.

I picked up a pair of cheap USB-C wired earphones from OneBelow for £1.50 the other day, WHSmith and Tesco had similarly cheap options, but my partner only finds one particular style comfortable. Also have two pairs of bluetooth earphones from Tesco that cost under £15 each. I have nicer headphones for in the house, but the dirt cheap ones are perfectly adequate when out and about.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

What do I think should be banned from trains? People who incessantly complain about other people & their habits on trains....

Seriously though I don't think there's really anything that should be banned that isn't already. I know a lot of people will have their personal peeves in upcoming posts, but I really don't think train crews need any more rules to try and enforce.

Agreed.

One thing I would ban isn't anything to do with passengers, but I'd ban operators from coming up with silly brand names for their new trains. I thought VTEC's "Azuma" was bad, but then SWR blew that out of the water by calling their new 701s "Arterio"... Thankfully Karma is a cruel mistress, and it seems SWR's "Arterio" is either blocked or ruptured!

 

[Silenos]

I thought VTEC's "Azuma" was bad, but then SWR blew that out of the water by calling their new 701s "Arterio"... Thankfully Karma is a cruel mistress, and it seems SWR's "Arterio" is either blocked or ruptured!

Infarcto

 

[greyman42]

Dogs.

These are banned in Hong Kong. I can't see why we shouldn't follow suit.

Most people in that part of the world have a very different attitude towards dogs than people in this the UK do.

 

[satisnek]

I'm not sure if I would ban anything, but I would wholeheartedly support a universal nationwide (not just on trains) 'Smartphones should be seen and not heard' campaign. It's high time that this should be called out for the stupid noise that it is - designed by cloth-eared morons for cloth-eared morons. Yes, there are some who play 'music' (or even music!) through a Bluetooth speaker but I've found such incidences to be almost infinitessimally rare (disclaimer: I don't travel around in the London area very much!).

 

[PaulJ]

Dogs.

These are banned in Hong Kong. I can't see why we shouldn't follow suit.

I don't own a dog and nor do I wish to, but in my experience the vast majority of dogs on trains keep put of the way and snooze through the journey. I've yet to meet a canine that plays loud music, leaves litter everywhere or is downright anti social.

 

[rf_ioliver]

I don't own a dog and nor do I wish to, but in my experience the vast majority of dogs on trains keep put of the way and snooze through the journey. I've yet to meet a canine that plays loud music, leaves litter everywhere or is downright anti social.

Last time I was on a train with my dog (golden retriever) we had to clean up the litter so she could lie down out of the way. Didn't bother anyone during the journey - if anything people came by to say hello to her.

If anything I would recommend one dog per carriage as it seems to calm things down.

 

[stuu]

I think the move to Bluetooth headphones is partly the issue - they cost much more than a £5 pair of Sonys from Argos you would have just in case. So people don't have them, so it seems to have become the norm to play rubbish out loud.

Walking round blaring out music from a cheap Bluetooth speaker seems to be a thing these days, thankfully not yet encountered it on a train but I expect it happens

 

[75A]

I don't own a dog and nor do I wish to, but in my experience the vast majority of dogs on trains keep put of the way and snooze through the journey. I've yet to meet a canine that plays loud music, leaves litter everywhere or is downright anti social.

Well said.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Walking round blaring out music from a cheap Bluetooth speaker seems to be a thing these days, thankfully not yet encountered it on a train but I expect it happens

While I don't overly want to listen to other peoples' choice of music (and that is just a recreation of 1980s ghetto blasters) I would hugely prefer, if music is to be played out loud, for it to be proper playing of complete tracks of music from a decent quality speaker with some bass behind it rather than Instagram crap or the football commentary (had that a few times) from a tinny phone speaker.

I don't find "muzak" in shops annoying, as it's played at reasonable volume from decent quality speakers. It's just that, albeit informal. I'd not do it, but it's not a gross irritant like mobiles. (It does help that I have a quite varied taste in music and don't really hate anything that strongly provided it's played on decent kit).

 

[Bartsimho]

- Alcohol (already banned on some TOC)

Good to see those with a puritanical streak are here.
Seriously being able to drink on trains is a major traffic draw.
If someone can create an entire twitter account dedicated to it and most of them are from football fans on away days then it shows the ability to drink on trains gets more people on the rails than it drives off.

 

[mike57]

Alcohol (already banned on some TOC)

To me alcohol isnt the problem, its a non-sentinent chemical. The problem is with those that get drunk and inficlict their inability to use alcohol in a sensisible way on others.

So rather than punishing everybody why not deal harshly with those who behave in an anti-social way. Ban them from the railway, with the warning that if they break the ban they face arrest and prison. The same scum who get drunk and vandalise or otherwise act in anti social manner would probably find another way to get into trouble anyway, even if alcohol was banned.

Then the majority, who like a drink, but dont get drunk and unpleasant can continue to enjoy that drink

 

[Bletchleyite]

To me alcohol isnt the problem, its a non-sentinent chemical. The problem is with those that get drunk and inficlict their inability to use alcohol in a sensisible way on others.

Most problems relating to alcohol on the railway aren't related to alcohol consumed on the railway, but rather to it being consumed before using the railway. Nobody is likely to cause trouble by having a glass of wine or can of beer while travelling, most journeys simply aren't long enough to get off your head unless glugging a bottle of cheap vodka. It's the culture of going out for a heavy session then, because last trains are so early outside of London, continuing on the train with the intention of further continuing when you get home. While some late evening ex-London trains are known as "vomit comets", people are more likely to be consuming Burger King on them than more alcohol, because if your last train is well after midnight who wants to continue the night?

Accordingly, the biggest problems seem to occur on regional routes out of Northern cities where the last train is around 2200.

I'm not saying the 2200-0000 trains out of Euston aren't sometimes a little high spirited, but they have a totally different, far less threatening feel than elsewhere. And the 0015 (Sat) and 0139 (other nights) tends just to be full of tired people falling asleep.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I agree with everything said apart from the OP and one other poster with a particular point of reference.

The thread title should simply say ENFORCED rather than BANNED.

 

[Peter0124]

Dogs.

These are banned in Hong Kong. I can't see why we shouldn't follow suit.

I wouldn't ban them on trains, but I would certainly ban any animal from sitting on the seats!

 

[Lewisham2221]

Pretty much everything mentioned so far would be likely to penalise many due to the irresponsibility of a few. What's needed is common sense, respect for fellow passengers and enforcement of existing rules regarding carriage and behaviour.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

I think we have to accept that these days people are going to use their phones on trains

We don't have to accept it; this should also be criminalised.

 

[Bletchleyite]

We don't have to accept it; this should also be criminalised.

Playing music out loud to the annoyance of others is a Byelaw offence already, but no TOC (not even the Merseyrail rentathugs) seem to enforce it, more's the pity.

I suppose proving annoyance is the issue; I'd support it becoming absolute, as unless you're the only person in the coach and you aren't within earshot of the cab it WILL cause annoyance.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

Playing music out loud to the annoyance of others is a Byelaw offence already

I was replying to having conversations on the phone. That should be criminalised and enforced.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was replying to having conversations on the phone. That should be criminalised and enforced.

I don't agree. Having a conversation at normal volume, be that on the phone or in person, is a normal part of rail travel. Speakerphone use would come under the above law though.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

is a normal part of rail travel.

It shouldn't be. Train carriages should be a dominion of silence as that is the only way to ensure respect for others such as those trying to sleep.

 

[yorksrob]

Last time I was on a train with my dog (golden retriever) we had to clean up the litter so she could lie down out of the way. Didn't bother anyone during the journey - if anything people came by to say hello to her.

If anything I would recommend one dog per carriage as it seems to calm things down.

Can we have a cat carriage as well ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It shouldn't be. Train carriages should be a dominion of silence as that is the only way to ensure respect for others such as those trying to sleep.

That's what the quiet coach is for (and in that it should be enforced).

 

[ThameslinkUser]

That's what the quiet coach is for

And on trains where there is no dedicated 'quiet' coach, then it should be automatically universally quiet. This is, of course, the case for the majority of services on the network.