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Train etiquette

684 replies

EmJA85 · 10/08/2025 10:41

Was getting the train back to London from a day out in Folkestone yesterday with my husband and my 1 year old. It’s not possible to book seats on that line. We arrived at the platform 30mins early because we knew it would be busy. As soon as the train arrived people literally pushed us out of the way to get on. Then there was a man with 2 bikes by the door, we couldn’t attempt to move to another carriage because we wouldn’t get on and the trains only run once an hour. People tutted and moaned because I was having trouble getting on. There wasn’t space to keep the buggy up so I had to carry him and people thought it was acceptable to let me stand holding a 12kg toddler, he can’t walk yet and is very energetic. I spoke out and was given a seat but everyone gave me dirty looks as if I was in the wrong. If I rocked up late or if seats were assigned I would say fair enough but I was there early and they all pushed in front. The icing on the cake was the seat I was given was in the area with the tables so he was given a makeshift drum and thought it was a social event so he proceeded to babble at everyone for the hour , people were not impressed. Is there an unwritten rule that you don’t get trains with kids? I don’t have a car

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EmJA85 · 10/08/2025 10:55

I live in London and don’t have a car so I’ve been on plenty of trains. If you read my post, you would see, I said I couldn’t walk to the next carriage because the train and platform were too busy. There wasn’t enough time in this instance. Not everyone on the platform made it on the train. The man with the bikes was already on the train when it got to my stop. I couldn’t walk down the train because the isles were full of people standing. I literally go anywhere but off the train or on the train where I was stood. My husband carried the buggy and stood holding it folded . I took the baby. And to clarify , I was stood my the door attempting to get on the train with my baby and people were pushing me no out the way

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chowmeinz · 10/08/2025 10:53

Why did your husband not carry him if tou were struggling?

waits for the drip feed

FanofLeaves · 10/08/2025 10:52

I got the train with my baby (he’s 3 now) all the time. We still do. I think you just had a bad experience, it’s annoying for everyone when the trains are packed. Journey time is less than hour though right? So no one suffered for long.

JDM625 · 10/08/2025 10:51

I don't understand. You said your DH was with you, so what was the struggle to get on the train? Couldn't he have carried the buggy and you carried the baby- or the other way around? Couldn't you have moved to another carriage once on board?

TBH- I don't keep record of who arrives at the station at what time. Pushing infront of you at the door is not on, but do you expect people to line up in a neat queue based on what time they arrived at the station? 😕

Drumming on the table shouldn't have been allowed! I'd have been annoyed also.

EmJA85 · 10/08/2025 10:51

side note, obviously I stopped him drumming on the table , he just kept attempting it which made life harder but I wasn’t going to stop him chatting

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Changingplace · 10/08/2025 10:49

Surely a man with two bikes didn’t push past you to get in the train? Or why didn’t you walk to the next door, trains allow enough time for people to physically get on a train, have you never got public transport before?

Where was your husband in this? Why are you being a martyr carrying a toddler & struggling with the buggy, what was he doing?

RepoTheGeriatricOpera · 10/08/2025 10:49

You got on the train, and someone got up and gave you a seat, which was lovely of them.

All the rest about absolutely everyone giving you dirty looks and not being impressed is probably just because it was a busy day and the train was packed so people were stressed out. I highly doubt it was because of you.

OneNeatBlueOrca · 10/08/2025 10:45

It's public transport. What did you expect. Your child does not pay a fare and their buggy took up the space of about 2-3 adults standing

The adults with bikes had paid a fare but you objected to their bikes but you had a buggy.

You expected train etiquette to give way to you? Good luck.

Fragmentedbrain · 10/08/2025 10:44

People are not very empathetic to someone with an added burden, Brits don't like kids, trains in the UK are balls. A depressing trip all round.

But you could have not let him drum on the table...