Should the quiet coach be called the silence coach?

[shinkansen1966]

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

Good point. In Japan, I have been in a 'silence car'. (or sirensu kaa, as they call it there)

In a Japanese shinkansen train silence car:

• no announcements are made
• tickets left in special seat holders so the guard can inspect them in complete silence, without disturbing the passenger
• all mobile phones to silent / vibrate
• no earphone use (I was told off)
• and of course, no mobile phone conversations at all

 

[IanXC]

Well I wasn't convinced about the idea of renaming the Quiet Coach.

I'm posting this from a Quiet Coach, where there is much, much more noise than the standard coach I moved from standing in.

There's a man loudly quizing some foreign tourists, crisps and popcorn(!) being eaten, someone watching a film with rubbish headphones, and even someone with an camera merrily snapping away out the window!

So yes, the "Silence Coach" could be much more effective in setting expectations.

Edit: someone has just told someone off for using a phone to text, and has now stormed out of the coach! Maybe this one is the 'Cabaret Coach'.

 

[jon0844]

That is most likely because there is a debate about the consequences of this. What if some day a mobile phone is needed for emergency services and cannot be used because of this "blocking"?

I can imagine it being a bit of a minefield for a company intending to deliberately block mobile signals.

Jammers are totally illegal, but it's probably a grey area if you applied a film that blocked the signal. Or perhaps applied a film for solar reflection that, oh, coincidentally had the side effect of blocking the signal. But even then if you only applied the film in one carriage it would be quite obvious what you were trying to do.

Even if such a process was legal, one accident (however serious) would land the TOC in very hot water either in negative publicity or worse. And you can just tell that someone would have a story in the DM about an emergency elsewhere where someone desperately tried to contact a passenger on the train (maybe the other half involved in a serious accident) to inform them, and the person missed having a moment with their loved one before they died as a result of the call not getting through. Ignoring the fact phone signals can be poor in a train, and in certain parts of the country, this is the exact sort of story I can imagine the Daily Mail writing.

Finally, I wonder if a film over the glass would be effective enough to block the signals enough to ensure nobody got a signal at all. Chances are they would and if the call was dropping out, would simply shout more going 'Hello? Hello? You still there? F**k' and trying to call again over and over.

 

[calc7]

Edit: someone has just told someone off for using a phone to text, and has now stormed out of the coach! Maybe this one is the 'Cabaret Coach'.

Does your phone have super-clicky keys or is it just that time of the month for them?

 

[IanXC]

Does your phone have super-clicky keys or is it just that time of the month for them?

My phone? Super quiet I'd say, but then I wasn't in trouble, the 'troublemaker's' phone was quite plastic clicky tho!

The character doing the telling off was a man...

 

[L&Y Robert]

Also, some people like to switch off their phone knowing they have an excuse not to take calls!

I have an exellent way of avoiding calls, and that is never to have had a pocket phone!

["Pocket phone" is my name for them, like, for instance, 'pocket watch', 'pocket book', 'pocket knife', 'pocket diary' and so on. So much neater than the clumsy and inaccurate name "Mobile". In my day "a Mobile" was a sort of multi-balanced hanging wire sculpture!]

And lately, I have taken to avoiding the "Quiet Coach", so that I'm not confronted by and irritated by the kind of acts of civil disobedience described in the thread. I prefer to slum it, wallow in it, and be entertained by the inane half-conversations (loudly) broadcast by the phoners.

 

[jon0844]

My smartphone rarely spends much time in my pocket!

I used it throughout my quiet coach journey and didn't hassle anyone because it's set to silent and has no clicking buttons.

 

[Butts]

I've been in an East Coast 1st Class Quiet Coach when the only sound has been the staff gassing at one of the tables.

Personally this does not bother me, as long as I have a "4" there could be a cabaret going on and I wouldn't mind.

I think the key to the whole issue is the difference between quiet and silent, on EC they always announce equipment on silent and make calls in the vestibule etc

 

[ValleyLines142]

I think it'd be a tad extreme to block the signal with vinyls that go on the window; I think that just sounds desperate. In fairness, most people, myself included, have phones on silent and I think that is acceptable. If one needs to make a phone call to arrange a lift from the station or whatever, then I think it's best to stand in the vestibules. I did this on 221121 last week

 

[D1009]

On the 2115 Padd Swansea in coach A at the minute. Absolutely silent, except that directly in front of me there are two people signing at one another fairly flamboyantly. It occurred to me that if I was able to sign I would indicate it was the quiet coach !

Joking really but these things can get ridiculous if you take them too far.

 

[fairliered]

In view of the preponderance of smartphones, would it help if, rather than blocking mobile signals in the Quiet Coach, free WiFi was provided in all the other coaches. A notice to that effect could be posted in the Quiet Coach. Also, reservations systems should allow you to specify whether or not you wish to book in the Quiet Coach, and ideally, anyone booking child tickets should not be given the option of booking in the Quiet Coach.

However, ultimately, the problem is the selfishness and lack of manners of too many people.

 

[RichmondCommu]

My smartphone rarely spends much time in my pocket!

I used it throughout my quiet coach journey and didn't hassle anyone because it's set to silent and has no clicking buttons.

Now thats fair enough but what happens if you receive a call? I always feel a due sense of dread if the organisation I work for reserve me a seat in the quiet coach. I spend more time in the bloody vestibule than I do sitting down because of people with nothing better to do!

 

[island]

Doesn't work like that. Indeed on the train I get to and from work, most of the spare seats are the window seats. Some passengers have a bad habit of sitting in the aisle seat when the window seat is free, and refusing to move over to the window seat when someone wants the spare seat (instead you have to ask them to move out of the way so you can sit in the window seat, and they can have their aisle seat back).

Nowt wrong with that. If the passenger has and wants an aisle seat they are perfectly entitled to let you into the window seat and then sit back down rather than taking a window seat. [Perhaps they want to be able to pop out to make phone calls!]

Enforced? How exactly. Take the phone off them?

I ask someone not to use their phone. They ignore me and carry on. Then what?

Do we call the police, confiscate season tickets? Then that person writes in and says your staff member was rude etc so that comes back to me.

Then the person is prosecuted for violating the Railway Bye-laws.

As mentioned above, in Japan every coach is a quiet coach. And there is no chance someone will talk on their phone, not on a commuter train, a shinkansen, or anything else (except in the vestibules of intercity trains, where it's accepted).

Now thats fair enough but what happens if you receive a call? I always feel a due sense of dread if the organisation I work for reserve me a seat in the quiet coach. I spend more time in the bloody vestibule than I do sitting down because of people with nothing better to do!

There should be enough time for you to get from your seat to the vestibule while your phone is ringing (vibrating!)

 

[MattRobinson]

There should be enough time for you to get from your seat to the vestibule while your phone is ringing (vibrating!)

Or at least time for you to get most of the way to the vestibule. I can't imagine any reasonable person would have a complaint if you answered your phone halfway to the vestibule as long as you were making your way there.

 

[corinthian]

Oooohh! Aaarggh!

Haven't posted for over three years, but this thread has got me going! Now I understand why so-called "Quiet Coaches" are so f'ing noisy.

Some people, it seems, just want to do whatever the f* they like. If it's against the rules, no bother. They will come up with all sorts of spurious justifications, so they end up feeling absolutely entitled to do so. Moreover, anyone who objects is just being out-of-touch, unrealistic, over-sensitive, selfish or whatever.

I sort of understand the poster who was suggesting he/she doesn't travel in the Quiet Coach, because it is actually more disturbing to be confronted with other people's utter selfishness and disregard for rules than it is to be surrounded by the even noisier environment in standard coaches.

I would like to retain quiet coaches, however, but think the rules should be made more restrictive.

I would say (OK, I am dreaming now...):

1. No making or receiving of any telephone calls. Phones must not ring at all, but silent or vibrate modes are acceptable, provided you do not answer the phone while still in the carriage. Texting/emailing permissible, provided any button tones, clicking, or haptic feedback have been switched off or minimised to the maximum degree possible.

2. Headphones to be used only if no sound is audible to other passengers. If anyone tells you they can hear, you have to accept that, even if you know they can't.

3. Talking prohibited, except for very brief communications with fellow passengers or staff relating to logistical aspects of the journey only.

4. Use of computers allowed only if the speakers are muted (zero volume), or with isolating headphones (see 2. above).

5. If you want to do any of the prohibited things, remember, you can always just get up and go to the vestibule or another carriage.

 

[HSTEd]

And how many seats will be unoccupied on an otherwise crowded train because of these draconian restrictions?

 

[AndyLandy]

And how many seats will be unoccupied on an otherwise crowded train because of these draconian restrictions?

The same can often be said of First Class accommodation. In certain situations, I've known guards to declassify (parts of) First on busy services. A similar approach could be adopted for Quiet coaches.

Personally, I prefer to avoid the Quiet coach so I can listen to my iPod (that way I can ignore the hell out of other people making lots of noise). But if I end up there for whatever reason, I respect the rules, listen to my iPod quietly and take calls in the vestibule. (Occasionally I'll have the audacity to answer in the carriage as I'm walking to the vestibule, but that's as far as it goes for me!)

 

[Butts]

Oooohh! Aaarggh!

Haven't posted for over three years, but this thread has got me going! Now I understand why so-called "Quiet Coaches" are so f'ing noisy.

Some people, it seems, just want to do whatever the f* they like. If it's against the rules, no bother. They will come up with all sorts of spurious justifications, so they end up feeling absolutely entitled to do so. Moreover, anyone who objects is just being out-of-touch, unrealistic, over-sensitive, selfish or whatever.

I sort of understand the poster who was suggesting he/she doesn't travel in the Quiet Coach, because it is actually more disturbing to be confronted with other people's utter selfishness and disregard for rules than it is to be surrounded by the even noisier environment in standard coaches.

I would like to retain quiet coaches, however, but think the rules should be made more restrictive.

I would say (OK, I am dreaming now...):

1. No making or receiving of any telephone calls. Phones must not ring at all, but silent or vibrate modes are acceptable, provided you do not answer the phone while still in the carriage. Texting/emailing permissible, provided any button tones, clicking, or haptic feedback have been switched off or minimised to the maximum degree possible.

2. Headphones to be used only if no sound is audible to other passengers. If anyone tells you they can hear, you have to accept that, even if you know they can't.

3. Talking prohibited, except for very brief communications with fellow passengers or staff relating to logistical aspects of the journey only.

4. Use of computers allowed only if the speakers are muted (zero volume), or with isolating headphones (see 2. above).

5. If you want to do any of the prohibited things, remember, you can always just get up and go to the vestibule or another carriage.

Agreed apart from No3 - When you say logistical does that include being able to order your meal and alcohol in EC First Class - as it's free I'd hate to miss out with my limited knowledge of sign language

 

[185]

I say name it the STFU coach.

Silent
Transport
For
Us

...obviously

 

[Butts]

I say name it the STFU coach.

Silent
Transport
For
Us

...obviously

The other version would be far more appropriate and effective

 

[krisk]

I wish you well getting people to be quiet. It creates more aggravation than what it is worth having a quiet coach to start with, if people in the UK were just more considerate when using a phone or audio equipment it qouldn't be needed to start with.

Says a lot for some of the people who reside here that we have to create a seperate travel environment because they can't keep a mobile conversation to a minimum and to make sure they are not disturbing other people.

Sad to see what this country is becoming.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Surely they could pay a fee to Upgrade to the quiet coach in the simplest style to paying a Upgrade to use First Class.?

 

[SS4]

Oooohh! Aaarggh!

Haven't posted for over three years, but this thread has got me going! Now I understand why so-called "Quiet Coaches" are so f'ing noisy.

Some people, it seems, just want to do whatever the f* they like. If it's against the rules, no bother. They will come up with all sorts of spurious justifications, so they end up feeling absolutely entitled to do so. Moreover, anyone who objects is just being out-of-touch, unrealistic, over-sensitive, selfish or whatever.

I sort of understand the poster who was suggesting he/she doesn't travel in the Quiet Coach, because it is actually more disturbing to be confronted with other people's utter selfishness and disregard for rules than it is to be surrounded by the even noisier environment in standard coaches.

I would like to retain quiet coaches, however, but think the rules should be made more restrictive.

I would say (OK, I am dreaming now...):

1. No making or receiving of any telephone calls. Phones must not ring at all, but silent or vibrate modes are acceptable, provided you do not answer the phone while still in the carriage. Texting/emailing permissible, provided any button tones, clicking, or haptic feedback have been switched off or minimised to the maximum degree possible.

2. Headphones to be used only if no sound is audible to other passengers. If anyone tells you they can hear, you have to accept that, even if you know they can't.

3. Talking prohibited, except for very brief communications with fellow passengers or staff relating to logistical aspects of the journey only.

4. Use of computers allowed only if the speakers are muted (zero volume), or with isolating headphones (see 2. above).

5. If you want to do any of the prohibited things, remember, you can always just get up and go to the vestibule or another carriage.

I can live with those, especially now mobile phones these days have standard 3.5mm headphone jacks but I'd add

6. No non-emergency audio announcements but visual ones would be provided

Surely they could pay a fee to Upgrade to the quiet coach in the simplest style to paying a Upgrade to use First Class.?

Byelaws 6(8) and 7(1) can be applied in the quiet zone so why should people have to pay more when the TOC don't even bother to enforce byelaws?

 

[Tomonthetrain]

But if draconian restrictions wasn't existant (quiet zones) mor people would be able to sit intend of stand. It'd sort capacity problems slightly

 

[Greenback]

But if draconian restrictions wasn't existant (quiet zones) mor people would be able to sit intend of stand. It'd sort capacity problems slightly

How? How many people choose to stand rather than sit and be quiet in the quiet coach? And doesn't that elave seats for those who are prepared to observe the requirements of the Quiet Coach anyway?

 

[SS4]

But if draconian restrictions wasn't existant (quiet zones) mor people would be able to sit intend of stand. It'd sort capacity problems slightly

For full trains there is obviously some leeway but ultimately if you sit in the quiet zone you should follow the rules. You could change the words "Quiet Zones" to "First Class" and have the same argument.

 

[Butts]

For full trains there is obviously some leeway but ultimately if you sit in the quiet zone you should follow the rules. You could change the words "Quiet Zones" to "First Class" and have the same argument.

Just travel East Coast First Class out of peak and you can be as quiet or noisy as you like in your "own carriage" - the only (welcoming) sound is the wheels of "The Trolley" arriving with more booze

 

[SS4]

Just travel East Coast First Class out of peak and you can be as quiet or noisy as you like in your "own carriage" - the only (welcoming) sound is the wheels of "The Trolley" arriving with more booze

I did travel on Virgin last year and had the entire first class section to myself until Rugby. I was tempted to ask for booze but decided against it as said train was the 0603


I've never been on East Coast though, mainly because, as the name suggests, they don't operate anywhere near Birmingham

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Never mind First Class, if you use any carriage on the Newark / York stopper you're guaranteed at least half a carriage free, certainly with the Newark terminators. I used them a few times in August and the maximum I counted on any of them was 20 in Standard. Even a few peak services I used were strangely quiet...

 

[Kapuskasing]

Byelaws 6(8) and 7(1) can be applied in the quiet zone so why should people have to pay more when the TOC don't even bother to enforce byelaws?

Does anyone know whether these byelaws have been successfully applied to enforce Quiet Zone behaviour?

6(8) No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of any person on the railway.

7(1) Except with written permission from an Operator no person on the railway
shall, to the annoyance of any person ... (ii) use any instrument, article or equipment for the production or reproduction of sound.