People on their own sitting at a table on a train

[Theelephantinthecastle]

Can anyone explain why they do this?

Just got on a train with my two kids - we joined a lady on her own at a table, she looks daggers at me. I realise it's not fun sharing a table with two young kids but why then sit at a table on your own? You are so much more likely to be joined by a family group! When I am on my own, I always prefer an airline style seat as I am much less likely to be joined by a family.

Is it just the triumph of optimism?

I like to work on the train so would always opt for a table seat. I don't mind being joined by other people.

I do get a bit annoyed when I book in the quiet carriage and are then joined by noisy people. That includes adults and children. If I was travelling with other people and wanted to be able to chat I would avoid the quiet carriage.

I generally try to avoid table seats as I dislike sitting opposite strangers (although GWR for some reason always books me a table seat, despite saying I prefer airline style)

But happy for anyone to join me if I am sitting there. I just get annoyed if they take up my “bit” of the table - but the people who do that are mainly men who think they have Big Important Jobs, not families!

Whether or not you claim to expect it, you've framed it as "the nice thing to do" and clearly the tone of your thread is that your DC are more entitled to a table than others.

She really is a dickhead. You have done nothing wrong OP.

I agree with you OP, I would rather avoid the tables and get to sit on my own if the option was there.

That said, there's a fair chance that she was annoyed because you had kids, so it's impossible to know if she would have reacted that way if you'd been a group of adults,

On the rare times that I use the train, I always pre book a table seat. I only use the train for a long journey.
I prefer them to other seats as it gives me more leg room, plus I can eat my food and read my book comfortably.
I don't mind who else sits there. Sometimes you can end up having a nice natter with your fellow passenger too.

So people on their own should not use the table just in case a parent with child/ren gets on at a later stop and wants to use said table.

That is some impressive parental entitlement.

You said you think it’s a nice thing to do. It isn’t. You have no more right to the space that they do, therefore it is neither nice nor not nice.

I think this is wilful misunderstanding really. She clearly isn't saying she thinks they shouldn't use the tables, she's saying they shouldn't use them if they don't want someone to then join them.

This. She had paid for a seat and had got there first. She is allowed to use a table!

She may well have been annoyed whoever sat at the table with her.

It reads like this and it rather cringey

She probably thought she had won train bingo getting a table with seats to herself.
Some people are just entitled. You've done nothing wrong here! Hope she soon gets off.

SHE IS CONDUCTING APHONE CALL ON SPEAKER this is terrible! Can you start a conversation with someone across the aisle about details of her call, or look intrigued and take some notes?

You’re inferring tone. Your own biases. I certainly didn’t get that as others didn’t.

Perfectly entitled to sit there OP. People need to learn to share shared spaces.

She should of course give way to you! Honest to God.

Just ignore her She hasn't paid for 4 seats. I always sit at table and fully expect other people to join me.

I’ll always sit at a table even if I’m on my own. Why not?

I get it OP.

We had a 6 hour journey home after Christmas once. We asked the woman at the table if she could move her luggage off the seats so we could sit down with our 4yo. She grumpily moved elsewhere.

I avoid tables if I'm on my own. I think it's weird to be sat facing a stranger on the train, and wouldn't opt for that if there's an alternative.

Maybe she had a pre booked seat though

This is totally a thing OP! I see people sit on six seaters look APPALLED that others have chosen to sit with them.

I cant explain it.

I agree, I think it’s a mistake to start interpreting into what people like this are thinking. You can be wrong and you bring your mood down for no reason.

That wasn't said!

Seriously. I can't believe you even asked. If I get on a train first and I choose to sit at a table, what business of that is yours. None of your business. No one has more rights, family over single. Get over yourself!

I'm disabled. I sit at a table because it's easier for me to manoeuvre myself in and out of the space. I can't negotiate the airline style seats easily.

I wouldn't mind you sitting there as I'd have headphones in.