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Original poster

Eating on Trains

293 replies

likepebblesonabeach · 07/06/2024 14:42

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?

OP posts:
Allfur · 07/06/2024 18:30

I agree, it's pretty gross, just eat a sandwich ffs

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 18:29

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:25

Obviously not 🙄

Various type of public transport might have no fast food/ no smoking/ no alcohol signs, despite the fact that you might be able to buy some of these things once on board.

This isn't a difficult or complicated thing.

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You are right. It's easy to say you can't do something.

Not so easy to get people to comply. If it were that easy, courts and prisons wouldn't need to exist.

cardibach · 07/06/2024 18:29

DiscoBeat · 07/06/2024 17:18

I agree. I'd be so embarrassed eating f and c but a quick sandwich at your own table/seat - fine (I wouldn't if I had a stranger right next to me or opposite though)

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Why wouldn’t you eat a sandwich near a stranger? I don’t get it. Genuinely.

Original poster
likepebblesonabeach · 07/06/2024 18:28

TomatoSandwiches · 07/06/2024 18:13

I hope the family had a lovely day, do you think they'd been to the beach at all?

I don't know, are there many beaches in Birmingham?

OP posts:
sonofrageandlove · 07/06/2024 18:26

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....

does a ham sandwich smell ?

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:25

spriots · 07/06/2024 18:12

Are you suggesting they search bags before you get on?

I don't think they're staffed up for that

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Obviously not 🙄

Various type of public transport might have no fast food/ no smoking/ no alcohol signs, despite the fact that you might be able to buy some of these things once on board.

This isn't a difficult or complicated thing.

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 18:24

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:08

Well that's not complicated.

You can buy hot food on the train if it's a long enough journey for them to serve it, but you don't bring it on. The same as on a plane.

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You can take hot food on some planes. Pretty sure Ryanair, as an example, let you take on hot food but not hot drinks. And on planes you pass buy people at a few points where they would be able to intervene. Who would be doing that on a train? I reckon the operators would be more interested in making sure everyone has tickets than ensuring they aren't carrying the wrong type of food.

Karmakamelion · 07/06/2024 18:15

likepebblesonabeach · 07/06/2024 15:37

I can't drive for medical reasons, haven't been able to for more than 11 years. So what do you, in your judgemental opinion, suggest I do now, walk the 180 miles?

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I find it hilarious that you call someone else judgemental!
It's fish and chips not a smelly wound. Just food!

TomatoSandwiches · 07/06/2024 18:13

I hope the family had a lovely day, do you think they'd been to the beach at all?

spriots · 07/06/2024 18:12

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:08

Well that's not complicated.

You can buy hot food on the train if it's a long enough journey for them to serve it, but you don't bring it on. The same as on a plane.

Show quote history

Are you suggesting they search bags before you get on?

I don't think they're staffed up for that

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:08

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 18:04

There might be a difference, but where are the train operators supposed to draw the line?

You can take on hot food if your journey is longer than... ?

You can take on this hot food but not that?

How would you propose they manage this?

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Well that's not complicated.

You can buy hot food on the train if it's a long enough journey for them to serve it, but you don't bring it on. The same as on a plane.

BigPandaTinyDragon · 07/06/2024 18:07

@SunriseSunsets not expecting a private service without other people around eating or talking just a bit of consideration but sounds like that’s not high on your priority list, congratulations.

@tobee I don’t think anyone is setting a standard, it’s just standard politeness to be aware of behaviour causing an issue for other people. You know, just being thoughtful and not thinking what you want to do trumps other people’s wishes - it’s not that hard.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 07/06/2024 18:07

It wouldn’t bother me. People eat in trains.

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 18:04

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:01

I think there's a difference between a hot meal served on a long journey and a family getting on a commuter train with greasy fish and chips wrapped in paper.

I do think the latter is quite antisocial.

Show quote history

There might be a difference, but where are the train operators supposed to draw the line?

You can take on hot food if your journey is longer than... ?

You can take on this hot food but not that?

How would you propose they manage this?

Bringbackthebeaver · 07/06/2024 18:01

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 17:55

Maybe the trains need to be told that having hot food on them is unacceptable, given that they serve it.

The last time I was on a train I was served a vegetable curry.

I think there's a difference between a hot meal served on a long journey and a family getting on a commuter train with greasy fish and chips wrapped in paper.

I do think the latter is quite antisocial.

Temushopper · 07/06/2024 17:58

KimberleyClark · 07/06/2024 15:16

I've never seen a McDonalds airside at an airport, their meal must have been cold by the time they ate it?

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There is one in Dubai & Amsterdam off top of my head. Definitely also seen them in the US though I don’t recall which airports

yumyumyumy · 07/06/2024 17:57

Cold and non smelly food seems ok. Fish and chips is really inconsiderate.

MyQuaintDog · 07/06/2024 17:56

Trains serve hot food from their catering window.
The difference in the past was that there was a dining carriage to consume hot food. This was cut to reduce costs.

NeverEnoughPants · 07/06/2024 17:55

Maybe the trains need to be told that having hot food on them is unacceptable, given that they serve it.

The last time I was on a train I was served a vegetable curry.

VivX · 07/06/2024 17:55

Common place in any commuter train nowadays to see at least on person with a full burger and chips.
Unsurprisingly, as there are loads of fast food places in and around all the big stations.

I can't say I was thrilled about the sushi that someone had the other week but even that wasn't as bad as some of the non-food smells on trains, so there's that.

I think I'm actually more annoyed by the rubbish that is left behind afterwards - at least take it with you when you get off.

ThingsWillOnlyGetBetter · 07/06/2024 17:55

@snackprovidersupreme whats wrong with sushi on a train? Cold, doesn’t smell, doesn’t splash etc. Pretty inoffensive I’d have thought.

Smelly food (pasties and burgers are the worst) should be banned from public transport.

mitogoshi · 07/06/2024 17:54

They serve fish and chips on some train lines so I'm pretty sure they expect you to eat it.

CormorantStrikesBack · 07/06/2024 17:53

likepebblesonabeach · 07/06/2024 17:51

Can all of the people saying they sell food on trains tell me what rail company sell fried fish and chips on board please.

I admit I’ve never had fish but I’ve had hot bbq pork, fry up breakfast inc bacon, roast chicken….just to name a few. All on LNER. Not sure if they serve fish, I’m not keen on it so wouldn’t have noticed.

Spirallingdownwards · 07/06/2024 17:53

EverythingYouDoIsaBalloon · 07/06/2024 17:36

And they sell food on trains so it's not selfish or inconsiderate to eat on a train ffs if you want to have a private service without other people around eating or talking 🙄 then pay for a private taxi!

Just because something's allowed doesn't necessarily mean it isn't rude or inconsiderate. FFS.

People are travelling. Your don't know how long their journey has been or will be and how they may have had to rush to catch the train and what other access to food they have had that day. I really can't get as wound up about someone having their meal or snack on their train journey whether it's 30 minutes or 5 hours. It's ruder I would say to expect people to live by your non-rules rule!

CormorantStrikesBack · 07/06/2024 17:51

Blimey, don’t travel in 1st class, they cook and bring smelly food to you on the train 😁

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