Page 3 | Eating on Trains

likepebblesonabeach · 2024-06-07T13:42:52+00:00

I travel on the train daily to work, 30 mins each way. I've just came back from a 3 hour train journey and was shocked that a family of 4 got on with fish and chips. The whole carriage was stinking of fish and chips and the majority of passengers were on the train the whole journey so had to put up with this for 3 hours. AIBU that if you travel on public transport you should be aware of those around you?

SirQuintusAurelius · 11/06/2024 21:15

But a tube train is hardly the same as an overground train!

Obtuse. Tubes do actually run overground on lots of lines. Only the Victoria & Waterloo & City lines are wholly underground. The point I was making applies to both - it's closed environment and if it starts to fill with smoke and the doors are locked you can't get out. You can't open a window and you can't open the doors yourself if it isn't in a station with doors unlocked. If you think that's the same as a restaurant then ... tee hee hee!

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 20:34

Tgabks @TheBossOfMe, I hadn't even opened that link! But a tube train is hardly the same as an overground train!

TheBossOfMe · 11/06/2024 20:29

SirQuintusAurelius · 11/06/2024 19:56

And McDonald's is not "stinky".

If you have burgers and chips, McDonalds is stinky. Fish and chips served on trains are reheated microwaved - so like other hot food served by the train itself - do not have the overwhelming permiating odour that freshly fat fried fish and chips do or McDonalds.

It's clear from the OP and others on this thread that a large number of people do find these smells unpleasant and intrusive. It is just shitty behaviour to eat food like that on a long journey.

I'd hardly call a train any more a closed environment than a restaurant!

LOL. If you need someone to explain to you why a train that has windows you can't open and you can't leave for most of the travel time except when its at a station and unlocked is not a closed environment compared to a restaurant, it's not really any great surprise that you think McDonalds is not stinky.

Here's a bit of a clue as to the extent that any train is a closed environment:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65501041

That’s a Tube, not a train!

McDonalds is super stinky though. I wouldn’t eat one on the train. Hot food like a Leon box, I’m less bothered by.

ThingsWillOnlyGetBetter · 11/06/2024 20:26

Yes a train is more enclosed than a restaurant. And you are sitting much closer to your neighbours too.

McDonalds reeks.

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 20:09

SirQuintusAurelius · 11/06/2024 19:56

And McDonald's is not "stinky".

If you have burgers and chips, McDonalds is stinky. Fish and chips served on trains are reheated microwaved - so like other hot food served by the train itself - do not have the overwhelming permiating odour that freshly fat fried fish and chips do or McDonalds.

It's clear from the OP and others on this thread that a large number of people do find these smells unpleasant and intrusive. It is just shitty behaviour to eat food like that on a long journey.

I'd hardly call a train any more a closed environment than a restaurant!

LOL. If you need someone to explain to you why a train that has windows you can't open and you can't leave for most of the travel time except when its at a station and unlocked is not a closed environment compared to a restaurant, it's not really any great surprise that you think McDonalds is not stinky.

Here's a bit of a clue as to the extent that any train is a closed environment:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65501041

And trains I travel on do have opening windows lol

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 20:09

SirQuintusAurelius · 11/06/2024 19:56

And McDonald's is not "stinky".

If you have burgers and chips, McDonalds is stinky. Fish and chips served on trains are reheated microwaved - so like other hot food served by the train itself - do not have the overwhelming permiating odour that freshly fat fried fish and chips do or McDonalds.

It's clear from the OP and others on this thread that a large number of people do find these smells unpleasant and intrusive. It is just shitty behaviour to eat food like that on a long journey.

I'd hardly call a train any more a closed environment than a restaurant!

LOL. If you need someone to explain to you why a train that has windows you can't open and you can't leave for most of the travel time except when its at a station and unlocked is not a closed environment compared to a restaurant, it's not really any great surprise that you think McDonalds is not stinky.

Here's a bit of a clue as to the extent that any train is a closed environment:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65501041

McDonalds is not stinky...

I won't go into a super long missive like yours.

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 20:08

ThingsWillOnlyGetBetter · 11/06/2024 19:57

God, I detest the smell of McDonalds / Burger King / KFC etc. I think it smells revolting - especially in an enclosed space like a train.

Is a train more enclosed than a restaurant?

ThingsWillOnlyGetBetter · 11/06/2024 19:57

God, I detest the smell of McDonalds / Burger King / KFC etc. I think it smells revolting - especially in an enclosed space like a train.

SirQuintusAurelius · 11/06/2024 19:56

And McDonald's is not "stinky".

If you have burgers and chips, McDonalds is stinky. Fish and chips served on trains are reheated microwaved - so like other hot food served by the train itself - do not have the overwhelming permiating odour that freshly fat fried fish and chips do or McDonalds.

It's clear from the OP and others on this thread that a large number of people do find these smells unpleasant and intrusive. It is just shitty behaviour to eat food like that on a long journey.

I'd hardly call a train any more a closed environment than a restaurant!

LOL. If you need someone to explain to you why a train that has windows you can't open and you can't leave for most of the travel time except when its at a station and unlocked is not a closed environment compared to a restaurant, it's not really any great surprise that you think McDonalds is not stinky.

Here's a bit of a clue as to the extent that any train is a closed environment:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65501041

Clapham Common: Passengers smash Tube train windows in fire alert

Footage on social media shows people clambering to escape from the train at Clapham Common Station.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65501041

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 19:08

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 21:36

Isn't it bad manners and inconsiderate to want to deter people from eating relatively normal food on a long journey in an environment where food is generally allowed and even sold just because it would be a minor inconvenience for you?

No. Because no one is detering people from eating food - at least I'm not. The bad manners is food that is intrusive due to strong smell in a closed environment. It's not that hard to find non-stinky food even hot food. In first class on some trains, the train actually serves some hot food - but guess what - it's not strongly odorous in the way that fish and chips or mussells or McDonalds are.

It's not about a minor inconvenience for one person. It's about stinking out a carriage - unpleasant for all except the consumer.

Manners are about courtesy to others and considering the many as against the few. It's pretty obvious that eating smelly food in a not very well ventilated environment is going to trouble more than it would not.

It's the same as painting your nails with a strong chemical smell.

And McDonald's is not "stinky".

Blarneytalk · 11/06/2024 19:07

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 21:36

Isn't it bad manners and inconsiderate to want to deter people from eating relatively normal food on a long journey in an environment where food is generally allowed and even sold just because it would be a minor inconvenience for you?

No. Because no one is detering people from eating food - at least I'm not. The bad manners is food that is intrusive due to strong smell in a closed environment. It's not that hard to find non-stinky food even hot food. In first class on some trains, the train actually serves some hot food - but guess what - it's not strongly odorous in the way that fish and chips or mussells or McDonalds are.

It's not about a minor inconvenience for one person. It's about stinking out a carriage - unpleasant for all except the consumer.

Manners are about courtesy to others and considering the many as against the few. It's pretty obvious that eating smelly food in a not very well ventilated environment is going to trouble more than it would not.

It's the same as painting your nails with a strong chemical smell.

Guess what, they serve fish and chips on trains!

🤷‍♀️

I'd hardly call a train any more a closed environment than a restaurant!

ZiriForGood · 10/06/2024 22:09

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 21:36

Isn't it bad manners and inconsiderate to want to deter people from eating relatively normal food on a long journey in an environment where food is generally allowed and even sold just because it would be a minor inconvenience for you?

No. Because no one is detering people from eating food - at least I'm not. The bad manners is food that is intrusive due to strong smell in a closed environment. It's not that hard to find non-stinky food even hot food. In first class on some trains, the train actually serves some hot food - but guess what - it's not strongly odorous in the way that fish and chips or mussells or McDonalds are.

It's not about a minor inconvenience for one person. It's about stinking out a carriage - unpleasant for all except the consumer.

Manners are about courtesy to others and considering the many as against the few. It's pretty obvious that eating smelly food in a not very well ventilated environment is going to trouble more than it would not.

It's the same as painting your nails with a strong chemical smell.

I was reacting to the post which said, that even if people were just saying that they consider McDonald's smelly because they don't like it in general, it would be good manners to avoid it anyway.

Which food is too smelly is subjective. Some people consider McDonald's too smelly , some don't care. Someone added their experience that on the last train from London more people have McDonald's on board than don't. Does it mean that from your point of view is ok to have McDonald's on late train, but not on the day one?

This seems to be the case when a potentially small but loud minority is trying to invent a social norm which would suit them and is invoking "manners" as a way to get it.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 21:38

Menues posted for train companies show foods like fish and curries being served in first class

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 21:36

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 19:47

Spot the person eating the McDonalds on a train! LOL.

This is Bullshit. I like McDonalds but even I think it really fucking smells if you aren't eating it yourself and worse in a non-food environment like a train.

I have a bit more respect for fellow travellers than to assume because I like something the stench of it in a long distance travelling environment would be welcome.

Besides, even if you are right and the people that complain about the smell are people that don't like it, if you are a person with manners and respect, that would on its own be enough to deter you from eating it on a train.

Show quote history

Yes I would eat a McDonalds on a train because its not a particularly smelly food! I've travelled home on the bus with a McDonalds to eat at home too which would presumably smell even closed ...

People who hate McDonalds are not my people and I don't have respect for them, no, because they'd be judging me for being "unhealthy" with no knowledge of me.

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 21:36

Isn't it bad manners and inconsiderate to want to deter people from eating relatively normal food on a long journey in an environment where food is generally allowed and even sold just because it would be a minor inconvenience for you?

No. Because no one is detering people from eating food - at least I'm not. The bad manners is food that is intrusive due to strong smell in a closed environment. It's not that hard to find non-stinky food even hot food. In first class on some trains, the train actually serves some hot food - but guess what - it's not strongly odorous in the way that fish and chips or mussells or McDonalds are.

It's not about a minor inconvenience for one person. It's about stinking out a carriage - unpleasant for all except the consumer.

Manners are about courtesy to others and considering the many as against the few. It's pretty obvious that eating smelly food in a not very well ventilated environment is going to trouble more than it would not.

It's the same as painting your nails with a strong chemical smell.

ZiriForGood · 10/06/2024 20:34

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 19:47

Spot the person eating the McDonalds on a train! LOL.

This is Bullshit. I like McDonalds but even I think it really fucking smells if you aren't eating it yourself and worse in a non-food environment like a train.

I have a bit more respect for fellow travellers than to assume because I like something the stench of it in a long distance travelling environment would be welcome.

Besides, even if you are right and the people that complain about the smell are people that don't like it, if you are a person with manners and respect, that would on its own be enough to deter you from eating it on a train.

Show quote history

Isn't it bad manners and inconsiderate to want to deter people from eating relatively normal food on a long journey in an environment where food is generally allowed and even sold just because it would be a minor inconvenience for you?

WhamBamThankU · 10/06/2024 20:25

Someone on a recent train pulled out tuna sandwiches and a Tupperware full of roast chicken that smelled really strong. No need

Summertimer · 10/06/2024 19:54

Eating on trains is fine. Personally, we are thoughtful about what we take with us to eat on long journeys. Cheese and biscuits but not smelly brie or Camembert. I was on a train where someone was eating fish and chips. There was hardly anyone on the train. Someone started talking about it to her other half, person eating moved. The vocal person was more annoying that the fish and chips smell

SirQuintusAurelius · 10/06/2024 19:47

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 14:33

McDonalds really isn't smelly

Just to people who hate McDonalds on principal

Spot the person eating the McDonalds on a train! LOL.

This is Bullshit. I like McDonalds but even I think it really fucking smells if you aren't eating it yourself and worse in a non-food environment like a train.

I have a bit more respect for fellow travellers than to assume because I like something the stench of it in a long distance travelling environment would be welcome.

Besides, even if you are right and the people that complain about the smell are people that don't like it, if you are a person with manners and respect, that would on its own be enough to deter you from eating it on a train.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/06/2024 18:24

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 14:33

McDonalds really isn't smelly

Just to people who hate McDonalds on principal

Admittedly, I like a Maccies but i wouldn't describe it as smelly. The smell is distinctive but not smelly, per se.

I wonder how long the smell clings to clothes

I said further up the thread that I can't stand the smell of oranges. Most people don't care/mind. There's nothing universal that someone can ear that everybody likes.

ZiriForGood · 10/06/2024 18:11

As long as animals are allowed in public transport, and not at least contained into a single carriage when possible, the whole debate about people who dare to bring chips to the train is a bit pointless.

weareallcats · 10/06/2024 16:53

snackprovidersupreme · 07/06/2024 14:52

On my train (long commute of over an hour) people regularly bring hot takeaway food. I sat next to someone eating sushi recently and another eating ham. Yesterday someone had a whole takeaway pizza. It's smelly and disgusting!!

Though not as bad as someone clipping their nails a few years ago....

I may actually BE the sushi offender here, as the person opposite me was eating a ham sandwich at the same time!

DiscoBeat · 10/06/2024 16:21

NeverEnoughPants · 09/06/2024 00:58

How would you feel about a stranger next to you on a train reading a sandwich?

Show quote history

Less concerned than if they were eating their book.

DiscoBeat · 10/06/2024 16:19

cardibach · 09/06/2024 10:27

I get that we are different. I just don’t see why that would feel awkward to anyone. Eating is perfectly normal. How do you manage on planes?

Show quote history

I sit next to family members on planes, but I would eat next to a stranger if I didn't, since the flights I go on are usually 8 hours rather than the average 40 minute train ride.

EverythingYouDoIsaBalloon · 10/06/2024 16:17

Most people would not consider McDonalds smelly....

I'm curious, when did you conduct this survey of what 'most people' think?