People sitting at the end of a 3 or 2 seat row

[strange6]

The real railway bug bearer of mine is when people sit at the end of a vacant 2 or 3 seat row on a crowded train thus preventing people sitting next to them. This, in my opinion, is the ultimate in railway bad manners and if i were a guard, I would tell them to move up in no uncertain terms. Some passengers do politely request them to 'move up' but most will not in my experience and will stand for their journey.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Why can't people just sit in the middle of them?

 

[strange6]

Why can't people just sit in the middle of them?

Why can't people just sit next to the window and allow the other seats to be sat on?

 

[Clint]

Why can't people just sit in the middle of them?

I like the theory that Derren Brown describes in his book.

Some people put their bag on the seat next to them because they want both seats to themselves, but on a crowded train people will usually have no hesitation in asking you/telling you to move it so they can have the seat.

If you want both seats to yourself then whenever someone comes up and looks at the seat, you should give it a pat with your hand and wink at them, as if you're beckoning them to sit next to you. The chances are....they won't!

 

[HLW]

Why can't people just sit next to the window and allow the other seats to be sat on?

Maybe they don't want to be squashed between two people or between someone and the wall? I often sit at the end of an empty row, and if anyone asks for a seat I just stand up to let them get past me to sit next to the window.

I don't see the problem, unless the person sitting on the end of the row refuses to move, but I've never seen that happen - people always move when asked politely I find.

 

[strange6]

Maybe they don't want to be squashed between two people or between someone and the wall? I often sit at the end of an empty row, and if anyone asks for a seat I just stand up to let them get past me to sit next to the window.

I don't see the problem, unless the person sitting on the end of the row refuses to move, but I've never seen that happen - people always move when asked politely I find.

You shouldn't have to ask but I'm glad my thread has prompted you to make your first post, particularly when it's been 2.5 years!!!!! Welcome aboard!!!

 

[trentside]

If there are no seats left, and people are doing this I have no hesitation in asking them to move across or let people past. I've also heard guards make announcements to this effect, asking people not to block seats and to move luggage under seats or into the racks. I think EMT 222s can also display such a message on the CIS screens.

I personally don't understand the attraction of sitting in the aisle, with people pushing past while there is a perfectly good empty window seat... each to their own I suppose!

 

[BrummyBoy]

Sometimes i will sit at the end of a three row seat as i cannot fit in the other seats and the aisle seat offers slightly more legroom as you can have one leg in the aisle.

 

[WestCoast]

On trains with a 2-2 seating pattern it's inexcusable and bad manners.

However, on certain units with 3-2 seating I can understand the reluctance to fill the middle seat in a group of 3. The Pacer benches and Merseytravel Pacer seating (arguably worse!) can be a hellish experience in the middle, especially if your seat partners are of a larger size and invade your space! :cry::cry:

I've noticed they don't generally bother with 3-2 in continental Europe, even on commuter trains.

 

[stut]

Same here - I'm comfortably over 6', and the extra legroom afforded by the aisle is very valuable. If you want to sit at the window, you just come up and say "excuse me please", just as I do if there are no aisle seats left. I'll even stand up to let you in. If you can't do that, then hell mend you, frankly.

 

[HLW]

You shouldn't have to ask but I'm glad my thread has prompted you to make your first post, particularly when it's been 2.5 years!!!!! Welcome aboard!!!

I was sure I'd posted here in the past, but I guess not from looking at my post count! Hello!

I usually prefer to stand rather than be trapped in next to the window. I've had people take ages to stand up to let me get off the train before, once when I asked someone to let me out they said 'but the train hasn't stopped yet'!!! With people like that in existence, I am sorry but I am going to continue to sit on the end of rows.

 

[Lampshade]

It depends what train I'm on:

142: FNW: Longitudinal seat, Merseyrail: Aisle seat on 3 side
150: Window seat on 2 side
323: Middle seat on 3 side
450: Window seat on 2 side
458: Window seat on Clapham Yard side (in relation to Windsor line)*

On trains with 2+2 seating I always sit on the window side so people can sit down easily. If I'm in the way on one of the above trains I will of course stand up to let them sit down.

*Backwards facing UP, forwards facing DOWN

 

[WatcherZero]

Im another in the cant fit knees into bench seats club, I always sit on the end facing the aisle or on the inside seat diagonally. If its a crowded train I prefer to stand. even if im on my own 4x table seats are a godsend as I can actually sit straight at them.

 

[gnolife]

If someones taking the aisle seat in a bay (ie on a 323), ill just climb over to sit by the window, making a distinct effort to step on the plank as many times as possible

 

[G123T]

A lot of people prefer the aisle seat so I don't see it as a problem providing they will let you in to get the window seat. A bigger annoyance for me is someone with their bag on the empty seat whilst listening to their iPod and gazing out of the window - that drives me crazy.

 

[Crossover]

I have done this on a few occasions and people will generally ask if they can sit in wherever.

Only a few weeks ago through I was sat at a table on a 185 and got a family sat around me. When it came time to get off I asked if I could get past (the lady next to me at this point had a kid on her knee) and in good time before the stop. I got a funny look and so I asked again. This time she moved, but didn't move all the other stuff so I have no idea how many bags I stood on trying to get out! Hate it as I always think I am showing myself up in front of the whole carriage

 

[Bittern]

The real railway bug bearer of mine is when people sit at the end of a vacant 2 or 3 seat row on a crowded train thus preventing people sitting next to them. This, in my opinion, is the ultimate in railway bad manners and if i were a guard, I would tell them to move up in no uncertain terms. Some passengers do politely request them to 'move up' but most will not in my experience and will stand for their journey.

Some of the things people post to complain about are genuine manner issues. This, however, is just nitpicking and is hardly a problem.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have done this on a few occasions and people will generally ask if they can sit in wherever.

Only a few weeks ago through I was sat at a table on a 185 and got a family sat around me. When it came time to get off I asked if I could get past (the lady next to me at this point had a kid on her knee) and in good time before the stop. I got a funny look and so I asked again. This time she moved, but didn't move all the other stuff so I have no idea how many bags I stood on trying to get out! Hate it as I always think I am showing myself up in front of the whole carriage

See, this is the type of thing worthy of a complaint about - not people deciding to sit at the isle seat.

 

[WatcherZero]

Usually if I gather my bags or make a show of movement whoevers blocking me will get up without having to be asked.

 

[scarby]

As has been mentioned, some people prefer to sit in the aisle seats for various reasons - most notably that it means they are free to get up and move without having to ask a stranger to move - which some people can find difficult, or even nearly impossible to do if they are very shy.

 

[Bedpan]

My bugbear is people sitting in a window seat and reading, I like to look outy of the window so prefer it if they sit in the aisle, and then I can manouevre past them and sit in the window seat. More difficult in airline style seats though, I agree.

 

[Squaddie]

My bugbear is people sitting in a window seat and reading, I like to look outy of the window so prefer it if they sit in the aisle...

This has to be a wind-up, right?

So.. the "rules" for train seating are that you should always sit in the window seat if it is vacant unless you want to read in which case you must sit in the aisle seat so that someone who wants to look "outy" the window can do so. I suppose we should also add a rule forbidding dozing while sitting in the window seat, for the same reason, and perhaps also forbidding anyone who does not plan to visit the toilet or buffet from sitting in an aisle seat.

The TOCs should begin work on suitable notices and announcements right away.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You find that the same thing occurs on buses as well as trains, with young girls being one of the main offenders. I never let this occurence of bad manners bother me, as either my wife or I would just say " Can you move to let me sit in that empty seat"...it never fails to achieve the desired effect and hopefully would make the offender think what they had done.

 

[Greenback]

This has to be a wind-up, right?

So.. the "rules" for train seating are that you should always sit in the window seat if it is vacant unless you want to read in which case you must sit in the aisle seat so that someone who wants to look "outy" the window can do so. I suppose we should also add a rule forbidding dozing while sitting in the window seat, for the same reason, and perhaps also forbidding anyone who does not plan to visit the toilet or buffet from sitting in an aisle seat.

The TOCs should begin work on suitable notices and announcements right away.

I think you have missed out the rules regarding tables:

Only groups can sit at tables, unless you are using or planning to use a laptop.

 

[Seacook]

If someones taking the aisle seat in a bay (ie on a 323), ill just climb over to sit by the window, making a distinct effort to step on the plank as many times as possible

How very polite and thoughtful of you.

Given a choice I prefer to sit in an aisle seat with the aisle on my right. Why? Because it's impossible to bend my right leg fully (it was amputated below the knee). I have no hesitation in standing up to let someone have the window seat, but if anyone should "just climb over" they may not be able to sit down at all with my walking stick inserted where the sun don't shine!

 

[sutty]

Squaddie, Greenback - I salute you both on top posts, sirs.

...especially as I broke two rules this morning. Reading the metro on the window seat of a 3 + 2 desiro facing forwards and I fell asleep.

My bag was on my lap though! Going through Coseley you never know what you might get nicked :P

 

[ApAp]

When I fly I always select an aisle seat.

When I reserve a seat on the train I always select an aisle seat.

When I board a train without a reservation (or the reservation has given me a window when I requested otherwise) I'll always choose an aisle seat.

When I'm on a bus I'll also do the same.

I'm always happy to let people in to the vacant seat.

If I'm in first class and on my own I'll always choose a single seat because then I can work or relax without disturbing anyone else and I have a seat that's effectively both aisle and window.

 

[strange6]

Some of the things people post to complain about are genuine manner issues. This, however, is just nitpicking and is hardly a problem.

In your opinion. I consider it bad manners and that's MY opinion

 

[MidnightFlyer]

In your opinion. I consider it bad manners and that's MY opinion

How is sitting on a seat in an aisle bad manners?

I recall doing it quite a lot on the SLC, no-one else batted an eyelid!

 

[strange6]

How is sitting on a seat in an aisle bad manners?

I recall doing it quite a lot on the SLC, no-one else batted an eyelid!

When you have a near full capacity train with very few seats left, and you sit at the end of a three seat row, thus blocking off the other two seats, I consider that bad manners (or laziness). When a train starts to get full, I always move-up as far as I can and make enough space next to me for people to sit if they wish to. I think that's being considerate myself

 

[MidnightFlyer]

When you have a near full capacity train with very few seats left, and you sit at the end of a three seat row, thus blocking off the other two seats, I consider that bad manners (or laziness). When a train starts to get full, I always move-up as far as I can and make enough space next to me for people to sit if they wish to. I think that's being considerate myself

Surely it isn't beyond the mental capacity of some passengers just to go and sit in the two vacant seats themselves? Hardly blocking them either, is it? On overcrowded trains, many just stay in the vestibule, not in the actual seating areas.