Young children on trains

[bramling]

When children and pets are looked after properly there is indeed no trouble, and indeed it's always good to see children being looked after properly by attentive parents. However, I don't think the badly-behaved and obstreperous brats are just a small minority any more. There are far too many parents on public transport who make not the slightest effort to keep their offspring quiet and occupied and seem to feel they are entirely free to inflcit their monstrosities on all and sundry.

Last year I was pleased to see a family get told to leave a preserved railway after the staff found the kids being allowed to climb over and violently kick various interior fixtures inside the historic carriage they were attempting to travel in. I'd certainly be happy to see more of this approach taken to families who have no respect for their surroundings.

 

[Clansman]

I'd certainly be happy to see more of this approach taken to families who have no respect for their surroundings.

When I was around 16, I was once shouted at and physically barged twice from a "gentleman" stood in the vestibule for opening the door on an HST (every other door on that side was open also) at Edinburgh Waverley when we were heavily delayed due to a signal failure further South. There was a stag party in the coach and everyone was joining in, so the carriage was loud and full to say the least. He didn't bother reserve himself a seat (bit ironic for someone who force-fed anyone, who he could hear questioning the delay, a dosage of his irrelevant railway knowledge) and dominated the vestibule like it was own, but insisted on shouting "leave the door you bloody child!!" before further shouting at me to shut up as I came back onto the train because he was on his phone and couldn't hear the announcements. All because opening and closing the door, leaving the train and coming back 5 minutes later, to open and close it again tipped him over the edge because he couldn't handle the stag party in the carriage which he effortlessly tried to avoid.

Should we toss people like him off the train also, or does it only apply to under 18s?

But I suppose, it was Ok ... because I was a child and that's acceptable. Right?

Not directed at you personally but just towards general anti-youth entitled snobs who are still living in a self-nostalgia fuelled era of the "good ol' days" and still feel it's acceptable to treat someone like absolute dirt because you know, "respect your elders" and all that.

 

[bramling]

When I was around 16, I was once shouted at and physically barged twice from a "gentleman" stood in the vestibule for opening the door on an HST (every other door on that side was open also) at Edinburgh Waverley when we were heavily delayed due to a signal failure further South. There was a stag party in the coach and everyone was joining in, so the carriage was loud and full to say the least. He didn't bother reserve himself a seat (bit ironic for someone who force-fed anyone, who he could hear questioning the delay, a dosage of his irrelevant railway knowledge) and dominated the vestibule like it was own, but insisted on shouting "leave the door you bloody child!!" to me and me only, before shouting at me to shut up as I came back onto the train because he was on his phone and couldn't hear the announcements.

Should we toss people like him off the train also, or does it only apply to under 18s?

But I suppose, it was Ok ... because I was a child and that's acceptable. Right?

Not directed at you personally but just towards general anti-youth entitled snobs who are still living in a self-nostalgia fuelled era of the "good ol' days" and still feel it's acceptable to treat someone like absolute dirt because you know, "respect your elders" and all that.

Personally I'm happy to have *anyone* chucked off a train if they won't behave decently and considerately - I couldn't care less how young or old they are.

 

[TractiveEffort]

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

Do the FOC's still own cattle trucks?

 

[satisnek]

I like to bring my guitar amp and just pump out hardcore techno.

There's an oxymoron in there somewhere...

 

[GusB]

Later in the journey they yelled rudely "I'm so bored! Play music Now!!" So the dad put the Nutcracker Suite music on TOP VOLUME. Everyone glared at him (except for me because that would be impolite).

Then a family with about a four year old girl came on shouting at the top of her lungs "I want wine! Give me wine!!!!"

They got off at about Perth.

It could have been much, much worse. I don't mind a bit of Tchaikovsky every now and again.

 

[AlterEgo]

So, because you chose to have kids but then feel the need to switch off from the associated parenting duties whilst n a public place everyone there has to make allowances for your need to relax.

No, you're the parent(s). If your kids are acting up you need to do your best to pro-actively deal with it there are then - not let them run riot/'create' while you chill out for xx minutes because you've had a hard day looking after them earlier/elsewhere.

Would you expect fellow travellers to change the brat's nappy should this become necessary because you've had a stessful day coping with the inevitable stresses of parenthood and need to relax a little during a train journey?

I'm sorry, but No!

When I was a kid I never acted up when I was out of the house. I was told in no uncertain terms that going out was a privilege and that if I acted up I would embarrass my parents.

My dad would also give me a good hiding if I did.

That's why I was well behaved as a child - at least outside the house anyway. Inside I was a little s**t.

 

[sk688]

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

Jeremy Clarkson and Co's efforts spring to mind

 

[rf_ioliver]

Funny thread...I'm guessing that certain people were never children, but born at the age of 60 with the ability to write letters to the Times signed "Annoyed of Tunbridge"

Kids will be kids - sometimes they get fractious, talk, maybe even move a little, but honestly is that any different from how some adults behave? If as one poster complained about that kids might get a little excited on trains, then just take note of the odd trainspotter or two who have been known to hang out of windows, block doors etc...or maybe the odd drunken football fan...then again try travelling on a late night commuter service in some places...

Now, I will admit there are adults who just don't give a toss about their or their children's behaviour, but to take it to the point where *all* children should be banned/lockedup/etc is getting a little silly.

t.

Ian

 

[bramling]

Funny thread...I'm guessing that certain people were never children, but born at the age of 60 with the ability to write letters to the Times signed "Annoyed of Tunbridge"

Kids will be kids - sometimes they get fractious, talk, maybe even move a little, but honestly is that any different from how some adults behave? If as one poster complained about that kids might get a little excited on trains, then just take note of the odd trainspotter or two who have been known to hang out of windows, block doors etc...or maybe the odd drunken football fan...then again try travelling on a late night commuter service in some places...

Now, I will admit there are adults who just don't give a toss about their or their children's behaviour, but to take it to the point where *all* children should be banned/lockedup/etc is getting a little silly.

t.

Ian

I may have missed something somewhere, however my impression from this thread is no one has suggested banning or locking up children. The general theme seems to be a desire for people to behave with consideration for others, and I see nothing unreasonable about that.

 

[cjmillsnun]

I may have missed something somewhere, however my impression from this thread is no one has suggested banning or locking up children. The general theme seems to be a desire for people to behave with consideration for others, and I see nothing unreasonable about that.

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

Really??? I know his comment was in jest, but...

 

[12CSVT]

Instead of a quiet coach, trains should have a noisy coach - for families with young children, people with inadequate, I.e. Apple, headphones, and the sort of inadequate, arrogant businessman who wants the whole train to hear how important his mobile phone conversation is. The rest of us can enjoy the journey in the rest of the train.
I appreciate that this policy may not work in a 153??????

As long as there's enough coaches (HST, class 390, Anglia Mk3 set etc) there's absolutely no reason for not having both.

Noisy children, those listening to music without using headphones, self important phone users yapping at the top of their voices, stag and hen parties, football supporters in the noisy coach.

Those who want to read, have a snooze, or relax in peace and quiet away from mobile phones in the quiet coach.

 

[bramling]

Really??? I know his comment was in jest, but...

The comment refers to "rowdy" kids. That's not quite the same as *all* kids.

 

[swt class 450]

Yes i absolutely hate when you get these children on trains being all loud and running around causing havoc and disturbing other passengers.

I have six children myself (all left home and age 20 to 28 now) and back when they were little me and my wife taught them to sit down and speak quietly on the train and not to be loud and run around. And out of respect for fellow passengers we certainly never took them on public transport until they were at least a few years old. There is nothing worse than being stuck on a bus or train trying to relax or do work listening to an annoying baby crying.

I think some parenting skills have really gone downhill nowadays. If the children calmly sit in their seats and talk quietly than i don't have a problem at all. But its when these parents just let their kids make so much noise and run around which i don't like. Some parents nowadays just let their children do what they want on trains.

 

[Ianno87]

There is nothing worse than being stuck on a bus or train trying to relax or do work listening to an annoying baby crying.

I assure you, the most frustrated person of all will be the parent of said crying baby. Sometimes you literally can't do anything, so it's not even worth trying.

Perhaps some rose-tinted looking back on your own parenting, perhaps?

This thread has right brought out all the grumpy old men...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

My gosh. That's very drastic!!

 

[fergusjbend]

Certainly children under the age of fifty should be banned from trains. Also all mobile phone users, all McEwan's lager-guzzling Glaswegians, poker schools, women who apply make-up in public, commuters who insist on spreading broadsheet newspapers over the width of three seats, snorers, crisp-eaters....and I'm sure more categories will occur to me. If other people are to be allowed to use trains when I am on board they should be paraplegic Trappist monks. I don't think this is an unreasonable demand - do you?

 

[Idon'tKnow]

Talking is fine, shouting is not that bad, but as others have said, I CANNOT STAND IT WHEN THEY WATCH FILMS WITHOUT HEADPHONES. It always seems to happen at the worst times though, there are never noisy people if I am going the short journey from Lichfield to Tamworth but then if I get that exact train to London I'm so unlucky and have to listen to Pirates of the Caribbean for the best part of 100 minutes. :roll: Headphones can be purchased for £1 at most pound shops, but at the very least why don't parents lower the volume down so when I am sitting 4 seats away I don't hear it.

 

[NSE]

There's an oxymoron in there somewhere...

Actually, I do have a bit of an interest in playing synth/techno/electro music through. I do a good cover of Alice Deejay's 'Better Off Alone'. I'd happily introduce a singalong coach where I can travel and jam haha

 

[SS4]

Those who want to read, have a snooze, or relax in peace and quiet away from mobile phones in the quiet coach.

You would think so but the Quiet Zone rules are enforced so sporadically it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference.

Noise is somewhat expected on public transport but this is a two way street: adults should not expect kids to act like it's a library but at the same time the kids (via parental proxy if required) should not expect to get away with treating a train like a playground!

I assure you, the most frustrated person of all will be the parent of said crying baby. Sometimes you literally can't do anything, so it's not even worth trying.

Perhaps some rose-tinted looking back on your own parenting, perhaps?

In turn, I assure you that I give zero *****. Not my child, not my problem but the noise is. That is one of many reasons children are not in my future.

I could not comment on my experiences as a child because I do not remember. It is statistically likely though but as the old saying goes: two wrongs do not make a right.

As these threads often do. However, it brings out the natalists out in much more force denouncing anybody who thinks kids are not saints and should be treated like adults.

Honestly, a full respect for the quiet zone would solve the problem in a flash - noisy children and adults would be turfed out leaving it peaceful for everyone else. An extension of quiet zones into stations and platforms would also be a nice upgrade. I would happily pay a supplement to ensure a quiet (I'm talking [pun intended] library level of noise though)

edit: Or take a leaf from the local swimming pools and have adults only services (again a pipe dream due to difficulty in enforcement although staff could theoretically charge everyone an adult ticket!)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes, well if only everyone obeyed the Quiet Zone rules that would be fine; but I sat in the QZ on Saturday and I've just said what happened! Oh well.

 

[boxy321]

Sorry for being so blunt, but isn't it a shame that enthusiasts get so worked up about children who happen share that same enthusiasm...

When sat in view of the railway from my local pub over a weekend, it is customary for people to shout 'TRAIN!' every time the Nuneaton dog box goes past. We're all in our 40's.

 

[boxy321]

Rowdy kids should be conveyed in an open cattle truck at the end of the formation.

Or worse, a Voyager.

 

[Stampy]

Just thought i'd get in my 2p's worth of 2 recent trips on the trains that involved children...

1) Travelling from Nottingham to Manchester last month, I was sat by the window in a bay of 4 when the family (2 "adults" and 3 kids) from hell got on at Chesterfield. After getting the stare to "move" failed, the Mother of the kids and 1 child sat opposite me, the other brat next to me - and the dad and other child went and sat in the 2 seats to the right of me on the opposite side of the carriage.
They then (for the rest of the journey) decided to scream and bawl, chucking stuff at each other - with the parents joining in with some VERY fruity language.
About halfway between Sheffield & Stockport - the "brat" opposite me wanted the toilet, so what did "Mum" do???
Pulled kids trousers and pants down and told him to "F**k off to the toilet himself - I'm busy" Kid shuffles off and back (down the whole carriage), saying that he couldn't wipe his "bum" (used the A word really), as there was no paper in there - so "Mum" whips the trousers and pants back up and hauls him roughly back into the seat
Train pulls into Manchester Piccadilly, and I (politely) asked if I could get out - get told to "F**k off", so i vaulted over the snot ridden brat in the seat next to me and got out in the aisle..
The brat next to me also found great joy in "every so often" pulling my headphone lead out and laughing....
I nearly get knocked to the floor as the "dad" shot up and bolted for the vacant seat, telling me I should have "F**king moved out earlier"... I failed to get out at Piccadily and managed to finally get out at Oxford Road.....

Compare that one to this:-

2) Yesterday (24th July), I went down to London to the Pink Floyd Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum (also taking in a football game at Enfield in the afternoon).
Got back to King's Cross at 1645 and decided to catch the 1709 back to Peterborough - so got on at Platform 9 into a bay of 4 seat on my own.
About 5pm I was joined by a family of 5 (2 parents and their 3 children), Dad sat opposite me with their eldest daughter, the son sat next to me - and Mum & baby sat on the other side of the carriage.
I'd got my Ipad out and had the RealTimes Map up on the screen, so I could "follow" the progress of our train - and this provided the boy next to me (who was about 4) with great interest.
He sat there fascinated with how the trains were moving, and was asking his Dad questions on things - which Dad answered truthfully.
I let him press on the screen when we changed screens (whilst passing Hitchin) on to the Hitchin-Stoke Tunnel section, and he was an absolute joy to sit next to - no bother.
If he asked a question, he was polite.
A rail buff for the future, especially when (between myself and his Dad) we explained signal block sections with 2 stuffed toys, 2 bottles of Lucozade and a piece of paper!!!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

The problem with these noisy, ungrateful brats is that mummy and daddy haven’t brought their sprogs up right and are let loose just because mummy wants to post a message on her facebook page or the “father” (I‘ll use that term loosely as these days you cannot tell if it is the father or not).

On journeys that I’ve made, I have had to put up with some of the most ungrateful s***s going.

Travelling to Leeds on a Northern stopper from Brighouse (as its in zone 4 and therefore cheaper), some brat decided to pull my fingers of the grab rail - told the s*** that if he does it again I’m having words with his father. The lads obese mothers gets up and starts having a go at us. Explained that her off spring should not be pulling peoples fingers or hands as its assault.

On another journey I’ve had one constantly kicking my shins for a good twenty minutes, kindly asked the mother to tell her daughter to stop kicking - got told that she was expressing herself. I warned the mother that I’ll express myself soon if it doesn’t stop.

On another, I had some **** who boarded at Barnsley thought it was a great idea to yell into my ear as he thought it was fun. The father just didn’t give a s*** when I challenged him over his son’s behaviour.

The most recent has got to be from last year where I was doing an all line rover, on one journey a child was running up and down the train before deciding to climb onto the table where I was sat and started to jump up and down before climbing down and doing the same on the table opposite I don’t think that the suit that was sat there was happy having his laptop and paperwork falling onto the floor. Thankfully the mother and son got off at Derby.

Judging by the standards of parenting these days I have to say that in some areas its gone downhill.

 

[rg177]

There's only once when I've wanted to genuinely kick off with parents because of their kids, and that was last year on the Night Riviera in the seated carriage.

Four young kids, all running up and down the carriage, making as much noise as possible, and one batted me on the head as they ran past, waking me up and ensuring that I had a total of 20 minutes sleep all night.

I'd have said something, but by the time I did get up and move it was about 1:45 in the morning and I just wanted to sleep!

That said, the guard looked completely peeved at them and seemed to wish that they weren't there either.

Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk

 

[Tooktook]

I think for some people public transport is the only means of transport that they have. Not everyone has a personal vehicle etc So the assertion made by one poster that children shouldn't travel for the first years is unrealistic and not reasonable.

I fully agree when commuting loud children can be a pain. But also its a train for everyone to use. And most children don't deliberately disrespect people's personal space. In my commute it's more the annoying drunks and people who have self important phone calls at a loud and unnecessary volume.

But again I tolerate it as its public transport.

 

[theageofthetra]

Talking is fine, shouting is not that bad, but as others have said, I CANNOT STAND IT WHEN THEY WATCH FILMS WITHOUT HEADPHONES. It always seems to happen at the worst times though, there are never noisy people if I am going the short journey from Lichfield to Tamworth but then if I get that exact train to London I'm so unlucky and have to listen to Pirates of the Caribbean for the best part of 100 minutes. :roll: Headphones can be purchased for £1 at most pound shops, but at the very least why don't parents lower the volume down so when I am sitting 4 seats away I don't hear it.

Tell the selfish morons to turn it off. Not acceptable in any civilised society.

 

[jon0844]

Or worse, a Voyager.

You have heard of the Geneva Convention?