Should the quiet coach be called the silence coach?

[railboy]

I'm aware there have been topics before about the quiet coach but when traveling today on a cross country service I was in the quiet zone and the conductor asked a passenger to stop using a mobile phone. She was very confused when informed she could speak to other passengers but not on a mobile. So do you think that to completely clarify the policy in the quiet coach should it be renamed silence coach so no noise is permitted or would you keep it as is. I personally would rename it silence zone and have stickers advising this on every seat because I don't think the current system works very well

 

[SS4]

Nah the current system of don't take the **** works well enough.

 

[Darandio]

She was very confused when informed she could speak to other passengers but not on a mobile.

Did she also need instructions on how to breathe?

I don't think it's rocket science really, people seem to naturally talk louder on the phone for a variety of reasons, volume, signal etc.

 

[cle]

It's also about ring tones. You can text away (tones off) and talk to people in an 'indoor voice' but people boom on the phone and it's irritating.

 

[button_boxer]

It's also much more distracting and harder to tune out when you can only hear one side of the conversation.

 

[Greenback]

No, it shouldn't be renamed. Quiet conversations should be permitted, it's difficult to travel with someone else and remain silent throughout the journey.

As has been said, it's more about the constant ringing of mobiles and the rather loud conversations that can ensue with soem individuals. Also, some people like to switch off their phone knowing they have an excuse not to take calls!

 

[IanD]

have stickers advising this on every seat because I don't think the current system works very well

Last time I was in the FGW quiet zone this was quite clearly advertised on the antimacassars on every seat. Not that too many people were taking much notice, most notably all the muppets bellowing down their mobiles.

 

[lookingforit35]

Call it what you like, sadly some folk dont seem to take any notice.

Unfortunately it seems that if any particular rule doesnt suit certain people, they feel free to simply ignore it. Purely a lack of common courtesy.

 

[Class 33]

Mobile phones on public transport are a bloody nuisance. But in the Quiet Zones of trains the rule(albeit not a strict rule which is strictly enforced) is that talking on mobile phones is not permitted. People like myself specifically go in these Quiet Zone carriages to avoid the mobile phone pests. Yet a number of people still do not take any notice of these notices saying mobile phone use is not permitted.

As for people talking LOUD on their mobiles, this seems to be a very British thing. I have been on trains in such countries as Germany and Holland. And from my experiences, very few people talk on their mobiles on public transport in these countries. Of the few who do, the people talk on them at a quiet volume as I guess they do not want the whole carriage to hear their conversation. Not only that, but the duration of the phone calls are usually much much shorter too. Compare that with the UK where people talk on their mobiles LOUDLY and babble, babble, babble.

 

[class26]

Call it what you like, sadly some folk dont seem to take any notice.

Unfortunately it seems that if any particular rule doesnt suit certain people, they feel free to simply ignore it. Purely a lack of common courtesy.

Agree. Recently I travelled up the east coast to Edinburh in coach B (coach C was by no means full) and one man was conducting his business on his mobile phoen opposite me. I glared at him but he didn`t take the hint so after a lengthy call (20 mins ) before he was about to dial another number I spoke with him and he refused to move to the vestibule and blatantly carried with the next call. He got off at Darlington and gace me a mouthful of abuse saying that I had cuased more noise comp[laining to him. So I was wrong !!

After that there were two more incidents before Edinburgh. One lady claimed to not be aware of the quiet coach whilst sitting directly by a quiet coach sign and another man , well he was rather large so I ignored him.

Now I sit in Coach C because it is less frustrating. Any ideas how this rule can be enforced for those who do not want the constant ring tones and various bleeps ?

 

[MattRobinson]

Block the mobile phone signal? To do this using active blocking is, I believe, illegal in the UK, but if you were to increase the effectiveness of the carriage as a Faraday cage that would achieve pretty much the desired effect...

 

[Greenback]

When I have travelled in the Quiet Coach, it has often (but not always) been effectively policed by the passengers themselves rather than the staff.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I do think that sometimes customers forget that they are travelling on public transport and not in the privacy of their own car. A little more tolerance towards each other would not go amiss, especially during peak times.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Block the mobile phone signal? To do this using active blocking is, I believe, illegal in the UK, but if you were to increase the effectiveness of the carriage as a Faraday cage that would achieve pretty much the desired effect...

And if someone has to make an emergency call? (remember in such situations you may not easily be able to get to other areas of the train).

 

[ValleyLines142]

Block the mobile phone signal? To do this using active blocking is, I believe, illegal in the UK, but if you were to increase the effectiveness of the carriage as a Faraday cage that would achieve pretty much the desired effect...

Apparently, C2C's 357s have/did have a special screen placed on the windows of the Quiet Zone section to block out the signal.

 

[90019]

So do you think that to completely clarify the policy in the quiet coach should it be renamed silence coach so no noise is permitted

No. .

 

[WestCoast]

So do you think that to completely clarify the policy in the quiet coach should it be renamed silence coach so no noise is permitted or would you keep it as is

Yes, my opinion is that 'no unnecessary noise' should be the condition attached to this coach. If it wouldn't be acceptable in the quiet area of a library, then not in this (small) part of the train. It's only polite for passengers wishing to make phone calls to leave the coach and make the call in the vestibule or another coach. If the train is completely rammed or it's an emergency, then exceptions apply.

As for people talking LOUD on their mobiles, this seems to be a very British thing. I have been on trains in such countries as Germany and Holland. And from my experiences, very few people talk on their mobiles on public transport in these countries..

Using mobile phones on trains for the purpose of a conversation is actually considered very rude in a number of countries such as Japan.

 

[DVD]

Mobile phones on public transport are a bloody nuisance. But in the Quiet Zones of trains the rule(albeit not a strict rule which is strictly enforced) is that talking on mobile phones is not permitted. People like myself specifically go in these Quiet Zone carriages to avoid the mobile phone pests. Yet a number of people still do not take any notice of these notices saying mobile phone use is not permitted.

As for people talking LOUD on their mobiles, this seems to be a very British thing. I have been on trains in such countries as Germany and Holland. And from my experiences, very few people talk on their mobiles on public transport in these countries. Of the few who do, the people talk on them at a quiet volume as I guess they do not want the whole carriage to hear their conversation. Not only that, but the duration of the phone calls are usually much much shorter too. Compare that with the UK where people talk on their mobiles LOUDLY and babble, babble, babble.

As a matter of principle I don't talk on a mobile phone in a confined public space such as a train - unless it was a real emergency. People who do are so rude. What interests (and puzzles me) is that whenever this is discussed on forums, everyone agrees that it is an annoyance and no-one admits to being the ones who live in a bubble chattering talk loudly (and selfishly) on their phone.

I too tend to choose the quiet carriage when possible and find it frustrating when the guidelines are ignored. I wish there was a way it could be enforced.

 

[All Line Rover]

So do you think that to completely clarify the policy in the quiet coach should it be renamed silence coach

Yes. The coach is there for people to sleep, read a book, work (silently) or listen to a podcast (without noise leaking from the headphones) and perform similar quiet activities. It is not there for people to have a chat, bring your young kids or bring your dog. Sadly it seems the majority of the travelling public do not wish to travel in a quiet and peaceful environment.

 

[Butts]

As a matter of principle I don't talk on a mobile phone in a confined public space such as a train - unless it was a real emergency. People who do are so rude. What interests (and puzzles me) is that whenever this is discussed on forums, everyone agrees that it is an annoyance and no-one admits to being the ones who live in a bubble chattering talk loudly (and selfishly) on their phone.

I too tend to choose the quiet carriage when possible and find it frustrating when the guidelines are ignored. I wish there was a way it could be enforced.

Why don't you approach the conductor or guard and complain about it ?

 

[Penmorfa]

Yes. It is not there for people to have a chat, bring your young kids or bring your dog.

Dog? I'll have you know that my dog is perfectly silent. Sadly his texting skills leave something to be desired.

 

[90019]

Dog? I'll have you know that my dog is perfectly silent. Sadly his texting skills leave something to be desired.

http://textfromdog.tumblr.com/

 

[D1009]

I'm a fan of the principle of quiet coaches, and as a commuter on FGW I find it works on the majority of occasions. However yesterday I travelled from Glasgow to Birmingham on the 1200 service, and a family consisting of daddy, mummy, two toddlers and a baby in a pushchair boarded the train at Glasgow. As is so often the case, daddy parked the pushchair in the wheelchair space which is in the quiet coach. Daddy wasn't travelling, so the fond farewells occupied the remaining time between boarding the train and departure time, so the train left with the remaining family in the wheelchair space, mummy obviously being too thick to work out what to do with the toddlers. Whilst there they were quiet, but unfortunately after about 15 minutes there were some children loving people occupying two of the table seats near the wheelchair space who took pity on them and invited them to occupy the seats next to them. After this the toddlers were left to make as much noise as they pleased, and at this point I had had enough and moved to coach C which was virtually silent.

For me quiet coaches won't work unless young families are specifically excluded.

 

[nedchester]

I was on a Pendolino in the summer with a couple of friends in the quiet coach. We were talking (not particularly loudly) and a woman a few seats down came down and told us to stop as it was the quiet coach. My friend told her that it wasn't a no talking coach rather a no MP3 player/mobile phone coach, so we just carried on. She was doing something on a laptop (maybe work?) but people aren't supposed to stay totally silent are they?

 

[calc7]

I was on a Pendolino in the summer with a couple of friends in the quiet coach. We were talking (not particularly loudly) and a woman a few seats down came down and told us to stop as it was the quiet coach. My friend told her that it wasn't a no talking coach rather a no MP3 player/mobile phone coach, so we just carried on. She was doing something on a laptop (maybe work?) but people aren't supposed to stay totally silent are they?

She should try the "Quiet Coach" on C2C between West Ham and Barking.

 

[12CSVT]

I reckon the most effective way of dealing with phone users in quiet coaches is to nip it in the bud straight away - go up to that person, tell them that it is a quiet coach, and actively point at the nearest sign which says 'Quiet Coach'. That way, there is no excuse for them to continue their selfish behaviour.

 

[Yew]

I suppose it depends on the situation, a quick phone call at a reasonable volume is one thing, however a half hour shouting to a mate it completely different

 

[Temple Meads]

I do think that sometimes customers forget that they are travelling on public transport and not in the privacy of their own car. A little more tolerance towards each other would not go amiss, especially during peak times.

This certainly has something to do with it, it is just easy to forget that your in the quiet coach sometimes.

 

[Rick1984]

Whilst you certainly should respect the quiet coach, most of the people complaining to other passengers always seem to do so in the most obnoxious fashion possible

 

[IanD]

Wish there's been a quiet coach on some of the 153s I've been on recently.