Your favourite seating position

[Bletchleyite]

This is all true. But the risk is so vanishingly small that it's really not worth considering.

Agreed. I do not expect to be involved in a train crash at any point in my life, so low is the likelihood, so safety is not a concern when selecting a seat.

But yes, in principle backwards tends to be safer provided there is a proper head restraint because whiplash is avoided - your head simply moves against the head restraint and does not snap forward then back. Without a head restraint it would be less safe because the head would fly backwards, which it is not meant to do.

 

[Bromley boy]

Easy, back cab.

No driving to worry about .

Nice view, reasonably comfortable, guaranteed seat, room to stretch out if the train is busy.

 

[westv]

How many TOCs have a seat selector map? I know VTEC have one even though it doesn't always work.

 

[fowler9]

Agreed. I do not expect to be involved in a train crash at any point in my life, so low is the likelihood, so safety is not a concern when selecting a seat.

But yes, in principle backwards tends to be safer provided there is a proper head restraint because whiplash is avoided - your head simply moves against the head restraint and does not snap forward then back. Without a head restraint it would be less safe because the head would fly backwards, which it is not meant to do.

I believe military troop transport aircraft have the seats facing backwards.

 

[A Challenge]

I believe military troop transport aircraft have the seats facing backwards.

I hope not the pilots, just the troops!

 

[Lucan]

I just prefer any single seat. So glad that GWR have put more of these in 1st Class.

In case this happens? :-

A guy I worked with was touring in the deep south of the USA and, getting on a crowded bus, the only remaining seat was next to a huge black woman. He was white BTW. He felt it awkward and embarassing to squeeze in next to her because she was taking a seat and a half, but thought it might cause offence not to do so, so he sat. As the journey went on, the bus gradually emptied until he and the woman were about the only ones left - but now he felt it might cause offence if he moved elsewhere. Then she turned to him and said "Can't you sit somewhere else now for heaven's sake!?".

 

[Peter Mugridge]

But yes, in principle backwards tends to be safer provided there is a proper head restraint because whiplash is avoided - your head simply moves against the head restraint and does not snap forward then back. Without a head restraint it would be less safe because the head would fly backwards, which it is not meant to do.

Unless it is rammed from behind...?

 

[Iskra]

Virgin Penalino - Seat A22

• Quiet coach
• Table seat - so extra legroom without the prospect of anyone in front of you
• Aisle seat
• Opposite luggage storage, if you want to keep an eye on things

That’s the Queasy Carriage if heading north though...

My preferences are: forward, window, table ideally at an individual seat in the middle of the carriage to minimise vibration from the wheels.

 

[james60059]

Has to be forward facing for me, not bothered whether it's airline style or around a table. Never liked going backwards

 

[fowler9]

I hope not the pilots, just the troops!

Ha ha, yeah, just the troops. The pilots have parachutes so they are fine. (I jest).

 

[WideRanger]

On the right hand side behind the driver on modern Japanese local trains, so you can see the route ahead and everything the driver is doing. And if you get fed up of that, you can flip the seat over and face backwards.

 

[SEClass375]

My favourite seating is at the very end of carriages, especially if the doors are 1/3s 2/3s and I sitting below the pantograph.

 

[Dougal2345]

I believe military troop transport aircraft have the seats facing backwards.

In the 1960s futuristic puppet series "Captain Scarlet" (think Thunderbirds, but a bit more serious) the "Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle" is controlled by a rear-facing driver, watching the road ahead on a video screen. After an occasional nasty crash, the driver in charge will climb out and say "the rear-facing seat saved me!".

 

[backontrack]

Travelling while facing backwards, table seat, window.

 

[Strat-tastic]

In an accident the front of the coach dips forward due to deceleration causing it to go under the rear of the coach in front, which of course is also raised as its front dips. So sitting at the rear of the coach is, in theory at least, safer in an accident.

 

[Lucan]

In olden days it was considered etiquette for ladies to face backwards and gentlemen forwards. This originated with early open passenger trucks when facing forwards got soot in your face (if not in First Class closed carriages) but the practice as good manners continued at least into the early 20th century. It also allowed the gentlemen to be the first to see the destination station as they should be the first to rise in order to supervise disembarking, and of course be first off the train to assist the ladies down.

 

[TRAX]

On my arse.

 

[Wombat]

It also allowed the gentlemen to be the first to see the destination station as they should be the first to rise in order to supervise disembarking, and of course be first off the train to assist the ladies down.

That's brilliant, I wonder what would happen if I attempted to supervise the ladies' disembarkation during the morning commute?