[treasureBelle]

(Original post by Fusion)
Well, I've only ever sat in reserved seats unaware that they were reserved, and when confronted by two burly germans during interrail once, immediately vacated the seat.

A few months ago in Belgium my reserved seat was double booked and there was a person in my seat with the same reservation as me, so I sat down nearby and couldn't care less because it wasn't my fault.

p.s. I don't see why it's a big issue anyway.

If I've reserved a seat on a train, it's generally because it's a long journey and I don't want to stand the whole way. 8 hours from London to Aberdeen, or back down the other way, is unbearable if I can't at least sit and read for it.

If the train isn't completely full and there are other (especially unreserved) seats free, I'm happy to switch seats with people if it's more convenient (eg, a family with small children who've ended up with spread out seats with just me in the middle or whatever). But if I've had the foresight to book my seat ahead of time, I'm not going to be happy if the seat on my 8 hour journey is taken by someone who just feels entitled to it and doesn't want to move.


In terms of the seat next to me... I might put my bag on the seat next to me if the train's reasonably empty and there are enough spare seats. If it starts to fill up, I'll move my bag to the floor/my lap/the overhead rack/a table if there is one.

One thing that does annoy me on trains, is people chatting in the quiet coach. Aargh! If I've booked a seat on the quiet coach (generally on a long journey), it's because I DON'T want to be forced to listen to someone's conversation. Funnily enough, that's why it's called the QUIET coach.

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by treasureBelle)
If I've reserved a seat on a train, it's generally because it's a long journey and I don't want to stand the whole way. 8 hours from London to Aberdeen, or back down the other way, is unbearable if I can't at least sit and read for it.

If the train isn't completely full and there are other (especially unreserved) seats free, I'm happy to switch seats with people if it's more convenient (eg, a family with small children who've ended up with spread out seats with just me in the middle or whatever). But if I've had the foresight to book my seat ahead of time, I'm not going to be happy if the seat on my 8 hour journey is taken by someone who just feels entitled to it and doesn't want to move.

You've missed the point of the post you quoted...

Imagine you reserved a seat and receive the reservation slip for seat J40. You board the train and realise there's already someone sitting in J40. Upon confrontation, they produce a reservation slip that is also for J40.

What would you do then?

[treasureBelle]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
You've missed the point of the post you quoted...

Imagine you reserved a seat and receive the reservation slip for seat J40. You board the train and realise there's already someone sitting in J40. Upon confrontation, they produce a reservation slip that is also for J40.

What would you do then?

Whoops.

If it's a double booking and there are other seats free, I'd probably go and take another free seat, like the person I quoted.
If there aren't any seats free in that carriage, I might try down the train and look in other carriages for free seats. If that fails... I'm not really sure.
Unfortunately, I'm not really a confident or assertive person. It takes a lot for me to ask for service in a shop or other place like that, let alone say something to a random member of the public, who may or may not abuse me for speaking up.... Yeah, I need to work on this.

Sorry, I probably should have been clearer in my other post. If it's a double booking or something, I can understand it - I wasn't disagreeing with anyone on that. But it would annoy me if someone who hadn't booked a seat, simply felt entitled to keep the one I booked just because they managed to sit on it before I did.

[WelshBluebird]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
You've missed the point of the post you quoted...

Imagine you reserved a seat and receive the reservation slip for seat J40. You board the train and realise there's already someone sitting in J40. Upon confrontation, they produce a reservation slip that is also for J40.

What would you do then?

If there are other seats free, just sit in them.
If there aren't, find the guard / conductor.
One interesting result of this is that technically your ticket could no longer be valid (as for advance tickets you must sit in your allocated seat). Although as this is hardly ever enforced anyway, I doubt it would be an issue if the seat was double booked.

Although at least in this country, I would be very surprised if it happened as all seat reservations are done electronically. I have come across someone who thought the seat I was in was double booked before, but he was confusing the coach letter with the seat letter.

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Airfairy)
So with train crowding becoming an almost constant issue (on my routes anyway), there have been some situations where I'm not quite sure how to act.

1. You're sitting in a priority seat (or any other seat if it makes any difference), who do you give your seat up for?

I would answer the elderly, disabled, and pregnant. But I've seen others offer their seats for people who didn't look any of those. Today, the girl next to me offered her seat to a German tourist. This left her husband standing, and I was wondering if I was expected to offer my seat to him, so he can sit with his wife? By the time I was getting close to my conclusion on this situation, I had to get off.

I also saw a girl offer her seat to a woman who looked no older than 50. That's not too old to stand is it? Maybe she was offended at being treated like an OAP, as she declined.

2. Most of the seats are reserved. Do you sit one of them?

It's always a gamble, but I'm always left annoyed as no-one ends up occupying some of them.

3. Snobby business man is sat on the aisle side, with his bag taking up the window side seat. He sees everyone standing around him, but doesn't move his bag. Do you have the balls to tell him you want to sit there?

I know I certainly do. These type of people annoy me to the max. They should buy another ticket if they want to take up another seat with their luggage on a packed train.




As you can tell, commuting is getting to me.

I commute as well and usually as I'm only 1 stop away I try to take the perch seat by the door or stand so not to piss anyone off.

1) When I'm doing longer journeys I'll give up my seat to anyone who asks really but usually I mainly do it for elderly people.

2) I've only ever sat in a reserved seat when my journey is 2 hours or more or it looks like no one is going to sit in the particular seat. I hate being squashed by the door for hours as it's so uncomfortable! Some people's attitude to reserved seats annoys me though - I had one woman go past a group of us on a carriage made up of reserved seats and she angrily shouted that we're were snobs for reserving when at that time the website I booked it on gave you no choice anyway.

3) Usually I've wussed out and haven't said anything as I usually get the typical "Bugger off you lazy student" look when I'm not even a student anymore. Sometimes I will ask though because I get irritated, only occasionally do they glare and say nothing. I find women are worse than men actually! It's always women with their handbags. Like your handbag needs its own seat!!

[WelshBluebird]

(Original post by dobbs)
No, it's rude not to move your stuff if someone asks you. It is not rude not to move your stuff if you are busy working and no-one actually asks you.

If the train is getting busy, then yes it is rude.

(Original post by dobbs)
People seem to think I'm like the antichrist for working on the train Stop getting so angry at it and if you want the seat, ask if you can sit there.

No one is complaining about you working on the train.
And yes, I do ask. But 90% of the time I do ask I get eyes rolled at me, and often tuts or whatever, implying its MY fault. Well I wouldn't have to ask if your bag was not on the seat (which is not designed for bags).

(Original post by dobbs)
Also, I'm not always the one sitting working. I have also gotten on very busy trains and people have bags on seats, and you just see people standing around giving disapproving looks....if you have such a problem with it ASK THEM IF YOU CAN SIT THERE. For all they know you WANT to stand up because you're getting off at the next stop, if you don't ask, they don't know. Sigh.

As above.

[WelshBluebird]

Another thing that annoys me (on busses too) is people not moving down / up when there is clearly room to do so.

(Original post by hannah_dru)
Some people's attitude to reserved seats annoys me though - I had one woman go past a group of us on a carriage made up of reserved seats and she angrily shouted that we're were snobs for reserving when at that time the website I booked it on gave you no choice anyway

lol that person is an idiot.
If you have an advance ticket, you have no choice and it is technically against the T&C's to NOT sit in your seat.

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by WelshBluebird)
lol that person is an idiot.
If you have an advance ticket, you have no choice and it is technically against the T&C's to NOT sit in your seat.

Exactly! I nearly yelled that back at her as my ticket was an advance one.

Another thing that's just occurred to me- My ticket keeps not working in the barriers at peak times and so many people are rude about the fact that I have to back up and get assistance. I get this "bitch move, I have to go to/have just come from work" look or similar comments when I'm in the same position

[WelshBluebird]

(Original post by hannah_dru)
Exactly! I nearly yelled that back at her as my ticket was an advance one.

Another thing that's just occurred to me- My ticket keeps not working in the barriers at peak times and so many people are rude about the fact that I have to back up and get assistance. I get this "bitch move, I have to go to/have just come from work" look or similar comments when I'm in the same position

Yep I've had that too.
Infact, the staff on the barriers are just as bad!

I break my journey a lot as my girlfriend is at uni in Cardiff, which is on the way to my home from where I am at uni (bath). So I can just buy a ticket from Bath to home, and stop off at hers on the way. But barriers generally don't like tickets that are not from or to that station, and so near enough all the time my ticket doesn't work. I get what you have said all the time from random people, but also the staff give me dodgy looks (and I have had one who tried to say I was a fare evader by doing it - idiot).

On that note, fare evaders do my head in too. The kids back at home are forever running down the train trying to get away from the guard. And the idiots who stay in the toilets for the whole journey so no one else can use them. Even ignoring the moral issues there (which I know a lot of people don't agree with, and I have stepped on a few times), don't be a bloody pain in the ass for other passengers!

sorry this has become a bit of a rant now! lol

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by WelshBluebird)
Yep I've had that too.
Infact, the staff on the barriers are just as bad!

I break my journey a lot as my girlfriend is at uni in Cardiff, which is on the way to my home from where I am at uni (bath). So I can just buy a ticket from Bath to home, and stop off at hers on the way. But barriers generally don't like tickets that are not from or to that station, and so near enough all the time my ticket doesn't work. I get what you have said all the time from random people, but also the staff give me dodgy looks (and I have had one who tried to say I was a fare evader by doing it - idiot).

Thankfully I've been ok with the staff on the barriers so far but if it keeps happening I think they'll start recognising me

Argh I hate that about fare evading! When I was looking at properties in a new area I got off at the wrong station by accident and had the same issue. I get that people can do it and they have to be careful but I find it a bit rude.

[JessicaUk]

Though I do apologise profusely for working during the weekend / my free time to mark some children's exam papers At least when I was doing the same on a train to Newcastle at Christmas a lady came up to me and actually commended me for working constantly through the 3hr journey, and telling me to take a break [/QUOTE]

This teacher job you are doing, are you getting paid for it, or are you doing it as a volunteer? Oh...you are being paid?! Well that is just amazing you are actually working in your free time to do a job which you are being paid to do anyway. I commend you totally....I know of no other job in which people also need to do some work in their own time....

Oh, and my uncle was in the army...he got killed whilst at work. But, at least he never had to suffer the heartache and hassles of needing to mark some exam papers on the train.....................

[BookLover]

Why are people getting so ticked off over the teacher marking papers on the train? If you want to sit, just ask her (or whoever) to move their bag. Problem solved.

I normally sit with my bag next to me because I tend to travel at odd times, so it's quiet and there are loads of empty seats. If I see it getting busy, I move my bag, but sometimes I don't notice because I read on the train and sometimes I'm very into my book. So, I don't mind if I'm asked...just please don't invade my personal space too much - I'm sick of elbows to the ribs and almost being hit in the face and then huffing like you wanted more room... I'm a skinny cow as it is and don't take up much room! I don't tend to give up my seat for people, because I've never been in the situation where someone elderly, disabled, pregnant, with children etc is standing (maybe just the trains I use...), which is great, because hopefully everyone who wants a seat has one.

[For The Love Of Giraffe]

(Original post by dobbs)
I get annoyed at people saying "Ooh those snobby people who put their bags on the chair next to them!!"

Sorry, I'm a teacher and sometimes I have a lot of work to do, and doing it on the train is ideal - so I might put my bag next to me. If someone comes along and asks if they can sit there, then I'll happily move it, but please don't assume that just because someone's put their bag next to them it's because they are 'snobby' and don't want anyone to sit there

Clearly if the train is empty then it would be a bit of an annoyance if someone came and asked to sit there, but when it's busier then yeah, just go up and say "Excuse me, is that seat taken?" and 99% of the time they'll be fine to move it for you

But if people are perfectly happy to move their bag 99% of the time, if they see a train is busy, why don't they do it in advance? I sometimes put my stuff on the chair next to me, but the moment the carriage gets about 70% full, I remove my bag and put it elsewhere because I know that some people are uncomfortable asking someone to move their bag so that they can sit down.

There's been so many occasions where I've seen full carriages with a few chairs taken up by bags and people having to stand up. Why not just be decent enough to move the bag and let someone sit down instead of waiting to be asked? I know that I definitely feel uncomfortable asking someone to move their stuff.

EDIT: Just seen that this has already been covered - sorry.

[dobbs]

(Original post by JessicaUk)
This teacher job you are doing, are you getting paid for it, or are you doing it as a volunteer? Oh...you are being paid?! Well that is just amazing you are actually working in your free time to do a job which you are being paid to do anyway. I commend you totally....I know of no other job in which people also need to do some work in their own time....

Oh, and my uncle was in the army...he got killed whilst at work. But, at least he never had to suffer the heartache and hassles of needing to mark some exam papers on the train.....................

Did your uncle get paid for being in the army?

My uncle died of cancer, he wasn't even at work, it was just in his life, he wasn't even being paid for it. Does that make your situation any better? No, I'm sorry for your loss but please don't try to make it out like I can't point something out about my job because "someone died doing their job".

Anyway, yes, I get paid to be a teacher. I'm not complaining about the amount of work I'm doing, but please appreciate that when I am trying to mark children's work on public transport so that they can get their results back swiftly and build upon those to gain better results next time, that I am not being rude if I do not notice that you need a seat. I am just focused on my work.

Some people are not polite on trains, fine, but don't lump us all in that category. Some of us are just working, and if you ask, I will happily make space for you

[OU Student]

If you've not paid for the extra seat, you shouldn't be using it.

Going back to what someone mentioned about children and quiet coaches - this annoys me too. I usually sit in the quiet coach, because strangely, I would like some peace and quiet. I don't want your child screaming their head off, thank you. I will admit that I do use my phone, tablet and MP3 player in the quiet coach; but, I am quiet with them. I don't call anyone on my phone.

[skatealexia]

Hate the people who take up reserved seats and then when you come up and say its reserved look out of the window pointedly!

[HanaKimi]

I was on the train and this man in a business suit sat next to me and after a while he turned around and told me to reserve the seat for him as he will be back shortly, so I innocently put my bag on the seat and stupid me didn't realise he actually got off the train until after getting some evil and disgusted stares from the people that just on the train. If only those people giving me evils knew I was shortly removed from my seat by a woman who had reserved the seat.

Trains are brutal, thank God I don't use them often.

[JessicaUk]

(Original post by dobbs)
Did your uncle get paid for being in the army?

My uncle died of cancer, he wasn't even at work, it was just in his life, he wasn't even being paid for it. Does that make your situation any better? No, I'm sorry for your loss but please don't try to make it out like I can't point something out about my job because "someone died doing their job".

Anyway, yes, I get paid to be a teacher. I'm not complaining about the amount of work I'm doing, but please appreciate that when I am trying to mark children's work on public transport so that they can get their results back swiftly and build upon those to gain better results next time, that I am not being rude if I do not notice that you need a seat. I am just focused on my work.

Some people are not polite on trains, fine, but don't lump us all in that category. Some of us are just working, and if you ask, I will happily make space for you

Wow....you are a teacher, so pleased you were not a teacher of mine. Such a good role model you sure are...

"Did your uncle get paid for being in the army?"

Well yes of course he got paid for BEEN in the army...but hey, he was getting paid for it so fair game eh?? Lets just forget he died for his country, he was getting paid afterall. Great role model you are. God help your students' and school.

[Mr.Zen]

If I see an elderly person/pregnant woman/or a family with kids I will always offer them my seat.

If someone is taking up a seat with their bag, and I want to sit down for whatever reason, then yes, I will ask them if I can sit there (courteously of course).

[dobbs]

(Original post by JessicaUk)
Wow....you are a teacher, so pleased you were not a teacher of mine. Such a good role model you sure are...

"Did your uncle get paid for being in the army?"

Well yes of course he got paid for BEEN in the army...but hey, he was getting paid for it so fair game eh?? Lets just forget he died for his country, he was getting paid afterall. Great role model you are. God help your students' and school.

I find your comments about my uncle incredibly insulting, you have no right to say it's "fair game" that your uncle died in the army and my uncle died of cancer - both are upsetting situations and you shouldn't try to 'get one up' on me for it. It's a disgusting thing to do

Please consider what you are saying in future. I'm not giving you any more of my time.