Trivia: unwritten etiquette as a railway passenger

[py_megapixel]

This is a thread for those unwritten rules that are generally considered polite or helpful towards rail staff or fellow passengers when you follow them, even though there's nothing saying you have to.

An example that came to mind and inspired me to start this thread: if you are a solo traveller who is lucky enough to happen upon an empty bench in a busy railway station, sit towards one end of it, so that another passenger may comfortably use the other end.

 

[Bald Rick]

Take your rubbish home with you, or at the least put it in the bi. (I’m forever doing this for lazy bar stewards who seem to think it’s ok leaving it on seats / floor / table).

 

[jfowkes]

Somewhere between etiquette and common sense: leave a space for people to get off the train before you get on it. I'm always amazed at people who will just stand in front of the door and not really register that I need to get off before they can get on.

 

[yorkie]

Somewhere between etiquette and common sense: leave a space for people to get off the train before you get on it.

Nope, that is actually a byelaw, and is very much written down! I sometimes remind people of this; they don't tend to like it when I do

 

[jfowkes]

Nope, that is actually a byelaw, and is very much written down! I sometimes remind people of this; they don't tend to like it when I do

Huh. This is today's "learn something new every day" for me then.

 

[weepingwillowb]

Don't eat an egg sandwich while in a carriage.

 

[py_megapixel]

Take your rubbish home with you, or at the least put it in the bi. (I’m forever doing this for lazy bar stewards who seem to think it’s ok leaving it on seats / floor / table).

On a Turbostar the other day where there is a bit of a gap between the window and aisle seats - when standing up to get my bag out of the luggage rack, I happened to notice a nearby passenger casually deposit their empty coffee cup through this gap onto the seat in front of them.

I would have thought that the fact they evidently didn't want to keep it on their seat might provide a clue that the next person to sit in front of them probably wouldn't want it their either, but apparently not.

 

[YorksLad12]

The area that looks like a wheelchair space is for wheelchairs. Not your luggage.

When someone on a train checks your ticket and says "thank you", say "thank you" back. You were brought up, not dragged up.

Children sometimes cry. Live with it. If you think the whole coach should be silent for your benefit you need to be in coach Volkswagen Golf.

If you board a train and have a reservation, and someone is sat sitting in your seat, moving elsewhere is not the correct response.

(Unwritten rule at Sheffield Station; if you try and board the train while I'm getting off, I'm not moving to one side - I'm walking straight into you. And I'm wider than I used to be, and my elbows sharper. And much less fussy as I've got older.)

 

[MotCO]

Stand aside for someone who is running to get to the train on the platform.

 

[kristiang85]

Don't clip your nails on the train (after an SWR passenger did this earlier this year)

 

[AlterEgo]

Close the door on slamdoor stock behind you.

 

[MCSHF007]

Or do your make-up/paint your nails. Just get up earlier and do it at home.

Don't clip your nails on the train (after an SWR passenger did this earlier this year)

Or do your make-up/paint your nails. Just get up earlier and do it at home.

 

[SteveyBee131]

If you're travelling alone on a busy train, offer the seat next to you to a fellow passenger (instead of insisting on having your luggage, food, mobile offices, feet and other things that have their own purposely designed space and time there).

 

[NSE]

Whilst I agree in principle with the bench point, sometimes someone else then gets up leaving me in a position I probably wouldn’t sit in if it was empty. Same with a bay of four, I generally try and go for two seats as I (usually) travel solo to leave them for bigger groups, but if it’s the only space when I arrive and then the other three leave before me, I’m not gonna move just because.

 

[The exile]

Huh. This is today's "learn something new every day" for me then.

Doesn’t the byelaw cover getting on before allowing people to get off, rather than leaving an appropriate gap on the platform?

 

[Mikey C]

If you're travelling alone on a busy train, offer the seat next to you to a fellow passenger (instead of insisting on having your luggage, food, mobile offices, feet and other things that have their own purposely designed space and time there).

Or worse (and this also happens on buses) sitting on the outside seat of a pair, with your stuff on the window seat, to really try and put off anyone from sitting next to you...

 

[Gloster]

Don’t pick your teeth and excavate the inner reaches of your mouth with a finger if you are sitting facing someone.

Don’t change a nappy and leave the old one on somebody else’s table.

 

[johntea]

Don't automatically board any old LNER train at Leeds and expect it to be going to London and then act shocked when you end up in say Harrogate having ignored the guard mentioning that fact at least 3 times before the doors closing!

The amount of people this happens to on a regular basis is pretty amazing!

Luckily for them they at least have a bailout option at Horsforth these days, oh wait you ignored the guard telling you the doors would only open on the front couple of carriages?!

(I've noticed more recently the guard will usually physically walk down the train asking for the destination of every passenger as a last resort it seems!)

 

[Flying Snail]

Don’t pick your teeth and excavate the inner reaches of your mouth with a finger if you are sitting facing someone.

Don’t change a nappy and leave the old one on somebody else’s table.

Don't change a nappy on a table in the first place, use the baby changing table in the toilet.

 

[Rick1984]

Haven't read rest of post yet. But if a solo traveller, don't sit at a table if the train is likely to be busy

If you're travelling alone on a busy train, offer the seat next to you to a fellow passenger (instead of insisting on having your luggage, food, mobile offices, feet and other things that have their own purposely designed space and time there).

My general rule of thumb if in an airline seat is I'll keep my bits like food in my bag beside but as the train gets busier I'll put it at my feet

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If the train is busy and standing-room only, move down into the saloon rather than blocking the vestibule.

If you've used a toilet with a power door on a train, press the button* behind you to close it after you leave. DO NOT leave it for everyone else to look at (and enjoy your smells) until it closes itself in about 2 minutes.

*=obviously I mean the close button on the outside. I'm not encouraging people to do the Class 333 toilet sabotage trick.

 

[DelayRepay]

This is a thread for those unwritten rules that are generally considered polite or helpful towards rail staff or fellow passengers when you follow them, even though there's nothing saying you have to.

Have your ticket (whether paper or electronic) and railcard (if applicable) handy so it's ready for inspection. Avoid the need to spend five minutes searching through pockets, bags and wallets when the guard comes round.

If you board a train and have a reservation, and someone is sat sitting in your seat, moving elsewhere is not the correct response.

I don't get this one.

If I have a reservation and someone is sat there, I might ask them to move. But if there are other unreserved seats available then I'll just sit somewhere else for ease. Depends how busy the train is. Etiquette would be not sitting in someone else's reserved seat in the first place, or if you do be conscious that the person who's reserved it may turn up, and be prepared to move if they do.

And be mindful of your telephone conversations... I don't object to people having using their phones, but some people are very loud! And moderate your language - your mate on the end of the phone might appreciate your effing and jeffing, but the rest of the carriage won't.

 

[daodao]

Close the door on slamdoor stock behind you.

Isn't that essentially obsolete. other than on heritage railways?

 

[mike57]

Or do your make-up/paint your nails. Just get up earlier and do it at home.

Don't clip your nails on the train (after an SWR passenger did this earlier this year)

Last week returning home from Manchester a 'lady' started doing a full acrylic nail job complete with adhesive, as well as running repairs to a heavily made up face. The nail adhesive was the stuff used in nail bars with full ventilation required, and yellow warning crosses on the bottles. The couple sat behind her complained, and she put it away, while pulling a face. I didnt get the fumes because of where I was sat, but that acrylic adhesive has a very pentrating smell and is hazardous.

What are the byelaws on this, if any?

Nail varnish is bad enough, that smells of acetone, which is the main solvent in it.

 

[railfan99]

Please never consume own-purchased hot food on board (or ideally, bring it on board unless in a sealed plastic or other container). Maccas, Burger King (Hungry Jacks in my country), fish'n'chips, Indian, Chinese or other Asian food...no.

 

[PGAT]

Someone’s gotta make that connection. Don’t give him that face whilst he’s running.

Also never talk over an announcement if possible.

My opinions on the noise level? Regular conversations are fine but maybe keep it down a couple of decibels. Music and videos are fine as long as we can tell you are trying to be considerate (but airpods and headphones are preferred)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Sounds like we are collectively providing the source material so that an updated edition of the 2003 book "Pains on Trains" can be published!

 

[richa2002]

Music and videos are fine as long as we can tell you are trying to be considerate (but airpods and headphones are preferred)

I disagree. It's never acceptable or polite to play noise out of an electronic device that can be heard from a seat or two away.

 

[Mag_seven]

People on "staff passes" should stand back and allow fare paying passenger their choice of seat before taking theirs and vacate that seat should fare paying passengers be standing.

(Actually this is not unwritten but stated in the staff travel rules)

 

[Falcon1200]

The area that looks like a wheelchair space is for wheelchairs. Not your luggage.

Similarly, the area with tip-up seats marked out for bicycles is, actually, for bicycles. Please don't sit there when there are other seats available.

People on "staff passes" should stand back and allow fare paying passenger their choice of seat before taking theirs and vacate that seat should fare paying passengers be standing.

Indeed, and only right of course, although how does any staff pass holder know whether others boarding or standing are not pass holders too!
My personal etiquette, as a pass holder, is never to reserve a seat (except where compulsory, thankfully now rare post-Covid) and sit where I can.