Quiet Coaches

[dk1]

Quiet coaches are generally the quietest coaches, so are far easier to get a seat in. A silly policy having quiet coaches in my opinion, and causes more issues than it solves. XC were very sensible to get rid of it on virtually all their trains.

I completely agree with you. They are more trouble than they are worth. It causes unnecessary grief for the guard and can cause conflict & even violence amongst passengers. I think the Cross Country woes where not helped by a third of the 4-car standard class being quiet but still very welcome when removed.

 

[6Gman]

Personally I think there should be signs on trains to leave the carriage if you want to make or take a phone call.

Crikey, that's a bit extreme.

What are you suggesting? Hanging out of a window or door?

 

[HaggisBotherer]

Shhhhhh!

 

[trebor79]

Years ago someone was taking all sorts of phone calls in a quiet carriage. She finally provoked me into action by leaning over my seat back to inform me that she'd now be conducting some telephone interviews and she hoped I didn't mind.
I told her I did mind and she could go and do her interviews elsewhere. She was most disgruntled and complained bitterly that the rest of the training was too noisy to conduct her calls, which was why she'd booked the quiet coach!

 

[mjtravel]

The Quiet Coach on GWR HST just has one poster at the end - it does indeed state to move to the next carriage to make or receive a phone call.

 

[CC 72100]

The Quiet Coach on GWR HST just has one poster at the end - it does indeed state to move to the next carriage to make or receive a phone call.

That and Quiet Coach on a pink sticker at the top of every other window!

 

[Mikey C]

The Quiet Coach on GWR HST just has one poster at the end - it does indeed state to move to the next carriage to make or receive a phone call.

A lot of people do go to the vestibule to make/receive calls

 

[ejstubbs]

The only signed restriction or announcements that I've seen/heard about quiet coaches is about electronic devices - usually something along the lines of phones on silent, no calls in the carriage, headphones on if you have any entertainment, though the exact focus varies.

The LNER web site says: "If you’re in the quiet coach, the idea is to keep the noise down. Mobile calls and noise from electronic devices are forbidden (now's not the time to review your ringtone collection!), and conversations should be conducted quietly. If you do have to make or take a call, please move into the vestibules before dialling or answering." I can't remember whether the signs on board have similar wording.

 

[scotrail158713]

The LNER web site says: "If you’re in the quiet coach, the idea is to keep the noise down. Mobile calls and noise from electronic devices are forbidden (now's not the time to review your ringtone collection!), and conversations should be conducted quietly. If you do have to make or take a call, please move into the vestibules before dialling or answering." I can't remember whether the signs on board have similar wording.

Back in September 2017 (when it was VTEC) the guard certainly announced that then, when I was travelling from Edinburgh to York. I’ve not travelled since then though so I’m not sure if they still do this.

 

[mjtravel]

That and Quiet Coach on a pink sticker at the top of every other window!

Interestingly was just on service from Penzance to London Paddington and didn't seem to have stickers on the window - perhaps they don't bother on the newer trains as it can be coach A, G etc depending on train formation?

 

[holl1984]

I used to always book the quiet coach when my youngest was smaller. He was easily over stimulated which made him grumpy and was easily distracted whilst feeding. We did this till he was about 6 months old.

We did have a man in a suit ask if we were in the right seats once

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Quiet coaches are generally the quietest coaches, so are far easier to get a seat in. A silly policy having quiet coaches in my opinion, and causes more issues than it solves. XC were very sensible to get rid of it on virtually all their trains.

Absolutely NOT a silly option as it saves one having to punch loud mouthed ignoramuses who want to impose their banal, crass conversations on the rest of humanity.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I used to always book the quiet coach when my youngest was smaller. He was easily over stimulated which made him grumpy and was easily distracted whilst feeding. We did this till he was about 6 months old.

We did have a man in a suit ask if we were in the right seats once

You were probably the people with the screeching brat who selfishly couldn't give a toss about the person with tinnitus for whom every squawk was a pain - as the saying goes "Your freedom is my oppression"

 

[whhistle]

That should be mandatory in ALL coaches, and indeed it is a Byelaw offence to play music etc out loud if it is to someone's annoyance.

Yeah, but nobody seems to care about the byelaws.
Perhaps the railway should go on a big drive to re-write them and remind people of the expectations of using the service.
When I see signs saying "abuse of our staff not tolerated" in the post office sorting office, I always wonder whether they'd just refuse to give me my parcel point blank.
The same sort of expectation should be said for passengers on trains.

 

[43096]

This wasn't a quiet coach, but I'm talking playing the music out loud on speakers, which is horribly obnoxious behaviour and shouldn't be tolerated anywhere.

I have heard a story from back when the Waterloo-Exeters were 50 hauled. Group of enthusiasts in the front coach. Another group in the same coach playing loud music on a stereo. The enthusiasts ask politely a couple of times for it to be turned down, with no response. At the third time of asking “or it’s going out the window” is added. Still no response, so the stereo is picked up and was last seen hurtling out of a window.

 

[CC 72100]

Interestingly was just on service from Penzance to London Paddington and didn't seem to have stickers on the window - perhaps they don't bother on the newer trains as it can be coach A, G etc depending on train formation?

Correct- sorry I thought you were still talking about the HSTs.

 

[al78]

I have heard a story from back when the Waterloo-Exeters were 50 hauled. Group of enthusiasts in the front coach. Another group in the same coach playing loud music on a stereo. The enthusiasts ask politely a couple of times for it to be turned down, with no response. At the third time of asking “or it’s going out the window” is added. Still no response, so the stereo is picked up and was last seen hurtling out of a window.

Followed by your teeth, if you pick the wrong person to try that with.

Tempting as it is to inflict your own version of punishment on selfish obnoxious individuals, you had better be handy with your fists if you are going to do it. If their selfishness comes with a massive entitlement attitude they may well decide to fight for their perceived freedom.

 

[lincolnshire]

Its like everything in life these days some people just don,t know how to conduct themselves in public and respect things like its the quiet coach so talk quietly and not use there phone. Some people have to talk very loud just to let other people let them know that they are here or talk on the phone very loud even shout. Its attention seeking and look at me attitude and usually all they saying to each other or on the phone is a load of waffle and useless s**t.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Its like everything in life these days some people just don,t know how to conduct themselves in public and respect things like its the quiet coach so talk quietly and not use there phone. Some people have to talk very loud just to let other people let them know that they are here or talk on the phone very loud even shout. Its attention seeking and look at me attitude and usually all they saying to each other or on the phone is a load of waffle and useless s**t.

I've generally found that these days most people use Messenger, Whatsapp etc instead of phoning, so this is rarely an issue. What is more of an issue is playing awful music or TV shows out loud, which is simply rude - use headphones.

 

[CardiffKid]

That and Quiet Coach on a pink sticker at the top of every other window!

the Pink stickers at the top of the windows are only on the HSTs not the 800s.

GWR have started affixing small labels above each seat on the luggage racks now which is helpful, but putting them on the seat backs at eye level would be better.

You'd still get some idiots talking away whilst looking at them mind you.

 

[Journeyman]

Followed by your teeth, if you pick the wrong person to try that with.

Tempting as it is to inflict your own version of punishment on selfish obnoxious individuals, you had better be handy with your fists if you are going to do it. If their selfishness comes with a massive entitlement attitude they may well decide to fight for their perceived freedom.

Absolutely - if someone is enough of an antisocial dick to keep playing loud music when asked to stop, they're likely to be antisocial enough to punch your lights out if you try challenging it further. In this situation, I'll retreat to a safe distance and report to the conductor and/or BTP as appropriate.

All of this is one reason why I prefer first class on long journeys if I can get it at a decent price. There's much less risk of antisocial behaviour, and noise levels are generally much lower, as there's fewer people in the carriage.

 

[Mikey C]

It does seem very common for parents with young children to allow them to play games or watch videos on their phones without headphones, or without the noise turned down. I've seen that quite often on local trains or buses

 

[_toommm_]

I don't see how people don't have headphones these days when you can get a pair from Poundland for, well, a pound!

 

[Journeyman]

It does seem very common for parents with young children to allow them to play games or watch videos on their phones without headphones, or without the noise turned down. I've seen that quite often on local trains or buses

Yup...and it's seriously out of order. My kids are older now but there's no way I'd have let them do that. This is what is going to result in more and more people behaving like selfish bell-ends in future.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yup...and it's seriously out of order. My kids are older now but there's no way I'd have let them do that. This is what is going to result in more and more people behaving like selfish bell-ends in future.

Agreed. Guards should be stopping this now, just like they stop feet on seats.

 

[3rd rail land]

Regardless of which coach I choose to sit I don't want to have to hear other people's music or whatever they are doing on their devices that emits sound. Kids games are the worst as the music is extremely repetitive and gets irritating very quickly. It is perfectly reasonable to expect people to use headphones.

As for phone calls I would expect people to refrain in the quiet coach and do so quietly in any other carriage. I, and I expect most if not all other passengers, do not want to have listen to half of a phone call. I much prefer to travel in relative peace.

 

[vlad]

It does seem very common for parents with young children to allow them to play games or watch videos on their phones without headphones, or without the noise turned down. I've seen that quite often on local trains or buses

There's a certain children's song (which I'm not even thinking about quoting here) that I'd never heard before I got on a certain train. Half an hour later I was able to sing it by heart.

 

[Essexman]

The Quiet Coach on GWR HST just has one poster at the end - it does indeed state to move to the next carriage to make or receive a phone call.

I am all in favour of Quiet Coaches but embarrassingly took a call in one of these today and was spoken to by another passenger. I hadn't realised it was a Quiet Coach and asked him where the sign was. He pointed out the only one - at the end of the coach and too small to read from my seat. Naturally I apologised - and told him that it's usually me asking others not to talk on their phones. GWR need to improve signing on their IET Quiet Coaches.

 

[CardiffKid]

I don't see how people don't have headphones these days when you can get a pair from Poundland for, well, a pound!

Those headphones are terrible and leak sound.

Trust me it’s highly irritating to be sat next to someone whose using headphones and you can hear their music. Worse still to be two or three seats away from someone with headphones.

It’s a combination of cheap headphones and/or people listening to music at far too high levels.

 

[RichT54]

In the past I have tried several makes of noise-cancelling headphones including Bose and Sennheiser. Some of them did a good job of removing low frequency rumbling noises but were less successful at cancelling out human speech. Some brands even claimed this as a desirable feature, but that was the main type of distraction I was trying to eliminate, especially when I was working in an open plan office. That was a few years ago now and I was wondering if the technology had advanced since then to make them more effective at filtering out loud conversations and phone calls on trains?