Weird Things You See People Do on the Railway

[Rob F]

On my first 800 trip to Gloucester I saw quite a few people not knowing what to do with the doors even though they use the same standard buttons on other units.

Also, was there not a guy in the south west famed for climbing a ladder and standing on things to take photos?

Dr Death

 

[Stampy]

Well, there's the odd "enthusiast" like this chap.....

 

[pdeaves]

Well, there's the odd "enthusiast" like this chap.....

You don't get much nearer a near miss than that!

 

[boxy321]

Similar thing happens on TPEs into Leeds, I've on occasion seen people start to get up at Cottingley which is a similar distance and time out, then everyone starts doing the same. I've often wondered if, if enough of you made the move towards the doors at the same time, how far out you could get the rest of the flock getting up?

While at one point I used to take passing Elland Road as my point for getting up when coming into Leeds on Cross Country, that was in pre-voyager days when with a large rucksack and a short connection getting stuck behind someone who didn't know how to work a Mk2 or Mk3 door would lead to a long wait at Leeds.

Will have a go in about an hour and a half. I'm going to stand just after Acocks Green and wait patiently by the door!

 

[al78]

You don't get much nearer a near miss than that!

It is like a variant on the smart-phone-dumb-user who walks into the road without looking.

 

[InterCity:125]

When people bring large bags on the train and can’t be bothered to move it from the door to the rack, and when you try to disembark and trip over it get cross at you for stepping on their bag.

 

[_toommm_]

When people bring large bags on the train and can’t be bothered to move it from the door to the rack, and when you try to disembark and trip over it get cross at you for stepping on their bag.

Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes train anyone??

 

[InterCity:125]

Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes train anyone??

I swear all Manchester airport trains are nightmares, I was on one with a standing room only because a 20-strong hen do were being loud and taking up all the free seats.

 

[Bromley boy]

When I was a lad , and Operations Manager for North London Railways - we named (one of the last things I did in that job - 1999) , 31601 I think "Bletchley Park Station X" (we used these things on the line due to endemic DMU failures pre the 150's coming in) - so we had a great turnout , WW2 uniforms etc as a Guard of Honour , and some of the train crew on duty came in with their old BR driver uniforms , caps and all.

Just seemed right ....mind you we did not have then , anyone in the driver grade , who was still qualified and from that era. Though we had retired some great old boys a few years earlier who had started as cleaners in or about 1945 , and found themselves rapidly promoted to fireman at the age of 16 , and on the main line on freight. 8 hours to Northampton in the winter of 1947 .....

Missed this when you posted it - that’s an excellent thing to have been part of.

The guy I’m thinking of was only a toddler when BR ended, so his penchant for the uniform is perhaps a little stranger than the guys you associated with!

It takes all sorts, as they say.

 

[Charlie M.]

Move up the platform when they see the train coming even though it is announced many times it is 10 coaches

 

[vlad]

Move up the platform when they see the train coming even though it is announced many times it is 10 coaches

You can't trust announcements.

"First class at the front" on XC could well mean first-class is at the back.

 

[AndrewE]

You can't trust announcements.

"First class at the front" on XC could well mean first-class is at the back.

It used to be quite common on the WCML too. I have been berated by platform staff at Warrington for (further) delaying a Pendolino train by running from one end to the other, and then been threatened with sanctions by pointing out that their own platform info was wrong and the cause of the problem. Absolutely infuriating, given that the train had been that way round for about 3 hours! I don't expect to be threatened when it's their incompetent operation that has put me (as an unusually clued-up passenger) in the wrong place. It's getting almost as bad as the little Hitlers who make up their own rules at airport security...

 

[jopsuk]

You can't trust announcements.

"First class at the front" on XC could well mean first-class is at the back.

At Stratford on Sunday morning platform 12 was still announcing a train as being delayed 20 minutes after it left on time...

 

[inthearea]

The best one was a woman who put her coffee in the door directly behind my cab to try stop the door from closing. Coffee erupts in the door and i couldnt help but laugh. Think she eexpected the door to spring back open

 

[InOban]

Which is a reasonable expectation, since lift doors do that. I think it's dangerous if items on the railway behave differently to similar items elsewhere with which the traveller may be much more familiar.

 

[mmh]

It used to be quite common on the WCML too. I have been berated by platform staff at Warrington for (further) delaying a Pendolino train by running from one end to the other, and then been threatened with sanctions by pointing out that their own platform info was wrong and the cause of the problem. Absolutely infuriating, given that the train had been that way round for about 3 hours! I don't expect to be threatened when it's their incompetent operation that has put me (as an unusually clued-up passenger) in the wrong place.

You could have just got on and walked inside it.

It's getting almost as bad as the little Hitlers who make up their own rules at airport security...

Ah.

(Sanctions)

 

[LowLevel]

Getting on board a class 156. Looking studiously at the empty ex parcels area. Ignoring the shelf and the large open area of floor luggage space to carefully rest your suitcase against the brackets to hold bike wheels labelled 'bicycle space' then looking aggrieved when a cyclist throws your case across the parcels area at the next stop.

I'd say 90% of the time you'll find if there's any luggage the rest of the thing is empty and it's resting in the clearly labelled bike area.

 

[STKKK46]

Getting on board a class 156. Looking studiously at the empty ex parcels area. Ignoring the shelf and the large open area of floor luggage space to carefully rest your suitcase against the brackets to hold bike wheels labelled 'bicycle space' then looking aggrieved when a cyclist throws your case across the parcels area at the next stop.

I'd say 90% of the time you'll find if there's any luggage the rest of the thing is empty and it's resting in the clearly labelled bike area.

In fairness, whether I’d put it in the wrong place or not, I would be absolutely seething if someone proceeded to throw my belongings across anywhere.

 

[AndrewE]

You could have just got on and walked inside it.

Not when it was rammed and our seats were at the other end. I wasn't dawdling along the platform either. (It was probably late because of station overtime for the same reason at all the earlier stations.)

 

[al78]

In fairness, whether I’d put it in the wrong place or not, I would be absolutely seething if someone proceeded to throw my belongings across anywhere.

Quite, that is asking for a beating. There is always the polite request to try first, and see if they pass the "attitude test".

 

[LowLevel]

I think probably goes without saying that slinging things about isn't good.

My thinking though was what part of the human psyche causes this to happen so much!? Had it again today. Totally empty area and shelf. 2 little suitcases tucked neatly against the bike wheel bracket. I might start taking photos and undertake a study to document the phenomenon - is it like cats liking boxes perhaps?

LowLevel's Law - when confronted by a completely empty luggage space comprising a shelf, a storage area and a labelled bicycle space, there's at least a 90% chance the person will choose to stow their case in the bicycle area, and further more look at you oddly if you suggest moving it 4 feet to the left to the completely empty luggage area.

 

[stut]

It's a commuter thing too. Get a peak time 365 out of King's Cross, and you'll barely be able to walk up the aisle, as it's utterly littered with bags and briefcases. The worst offenders will also quite happily plonk it down on top of your foot if you have the temerity to have size 13s and want to use up maximum legroom (or have to jut out into the aisle as you don't fit).

 

[aar0]

Just went to the bar on an LNER 225, and by the time I got back to my seat someone was sitting on my magazine, left on my seat to emphasise that it was in use, and using my phone charger...!?!

 

[boxy321]

Not when it was rammed and our seats were at the other end. I wasn't dawdling along the platform either. (It was probably late because of station overtime for the same reason at all the earlier stations.)

mmh doesn't travel on Penodolinos much then! I tried walking through just a few coaches in heathen class once and it was like the Krypton Factor assault course. Heading towards Birmingham Airport too so huge bags everywhere.

 

[ShwervinMervin]

4: Push the door open button before it's lit.
It reminds me of those people who flash at traffic lights hoping they'll change, or people who twist the little knob underneath the pedestrian button thinking it changes the lights quicker...

Sometimes, yes. But people always give me the stare when I’m on a 313 and I push the button before it’s lit, where then I believe it’s fine, as they open instantly

 

[ShwervinMervin]

Then when the doors are released and the button lights they just stand there gormlessly waiting. I see this all the time and it drives me mad.

Even worse when they see the lights go OFF and then try open it... Bit late mate

 

[Severn40]

People texting whilst walking down or up busy and crowded stairwells at stations (and oblivious to everyone around them)

 

[HowardGWR]

Just went to the bar on an LNER 225, and by the time I got back to my seat someone was sitting on my magazine, left on my seat to emphasise that it was in use, and using my phone charger...!?!

You know that old Yorkshire saying - "It's bums that reserve seats lad".

 

[Killingworth]

TPE Manchester Airport - Glasgow last Friday. Usual scrum waiting on Platform 14 at Piccadilly. Announcement of which end carriage A would be. Scratching of heads as many travellers don't know where they should now be standing but those who do fall over luggage and smaller people to get to other end of train. Train draws in and they mass around closed doors. Doors open and bemused travellers with more luggage struggle to get out as those on platform struggle to get in. Find our booked seats and settle down, many standing in all doorways.

We pass Preston before a lady wanders up the train and spots her reserved seats, apparently having stood since the airport! Triumphantly she calls back down to her companion that's she's found them. Two young men sitting in them immediately give way and go to stand at the next doorway. Lady says, no that's alright, you keep them, you're clearly more in need than us, making them feel really guilty as they look to be half her age. She then goes back to her doorway and is overheard commenting on the crazy way things are organised in this country. (The 2 seats remained empty despite many standees, nobody else daring to take them.) She was still standing by her doorway when we alighted at Penrith. At that point we found these two ladies had the most massive wheeled bags I've seen on a train, totally blocking the door so they had to be shunted back and forth several times before we could get out.

Modern railways are indeed crazy. Remember luggage in advance and guards vans? What on earth do some people take with them, surely not a kitchen sink? Personally I haven't travelled with more than hand luggage for many years, so I'm probably biased on this!

Incidentally, several announcements about contacting a member of staff were a bit ironic as we never saw one. Situation normal these days. We gathered there were no refreshments on that train either - although there had been on our 3 coach 185 from Sheffield.

 

[465 Forever]

People beating the hell out of the door buttons on 375s.
Man at Ashford having a one way conversation with his beer can.
On Sevenoaks to London Bridge fast a woman got up and stood by the door on approach to Orpington, realized that we weren't stopping, slapped the door and swore to herself then sat down again