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Original poster

People on their own sitting at a table on a train

273 replies

Theelephantinthecastle · 15/02/2023 11:59

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?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 15/02/2023 15:45

Space, especially from other people meaning no need to consider a face covering.

I would love to see one carriage with compartments return. So those who would like some peace and quiet can get it. Open plan carriages don't usually have that and cannot be expected to.

kitsuneghost · 15/02/2023 15:46

If I am on my own I don't sit at a table (unless it's the only seat going)
To be honest is nothing to do with not wanting people around me or anything
I just think if a group of 4 came on (kids or no kids) It would be better utilised by them.
Actually kind of bugs me when I leave a 4 seat and some random single sits there and spreads. (unjustified as it doesn't affect me, I know)

LT2 · 15/02/2023 15:48

I was going to say perhaps they are lonely and wanted a table so others would sit there too with them but not if she looked at you like that!

ancientgran · 15/02/2023 15:50

People are funny on trains. One I remember is an angry woman coming to me, sitting at a table with DH and 2 kids. She demanded we move as we were in her seats. I said something must have gone wrong as we had reserved these seats and showed her my tickets. She got hers out and presented them like top trumps and I pointed out she was in carriage E and her seats were in carriage D. She didn't speak but stomped off.

Another one was when I was on a train with GC. It was packed and we hadn't managed to reserve 3 seats together so the children were sitting together, I was the other side of the aisle two rows back sitting in the aisle seat so I could see them. Woman got on, she hadn't got reserved seats and asked me to move. I said I'd reserved that seat but I'd get up so she could have the window seat. She said she wanted the aisle seat and I had to move. I mean I'd reserved the seat and I was sitting in it! She carried on for a while insisting she had to have the aisle seat and I carried on saying I wanted to be able to watch the children and anyway it was my seat. Someone came and dragged her away in the end. No idea who they were. She continued to insist I had to move as they moved up the carriage.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 15/02/2023 15:51

Corg · 15/02/2023 12:07

I have noise cancelling headphones in every handbag, laptop bag and charger cable bag for this precise reason. And I also always book the quiet carriage but there's some sadist at the Train Line who makes a point of booking family groups into the quiet carriage without warning them first. Which is grim for everyone...

You also can't request NOT to be in the quiet carriage.

I begged the train companies to add that as an option after a 6 hour journey with 8 month old DD on a packed train. We were assigned the quiet carriage and she screamed non-stop for over 3 hours.

Mark19735 · 15/02/2023 15:53

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SinnerBoy · 15/02/2023 15:54

WickedStepmomNOT · Today 13:33

HaHa last time that happened I asked once, repeated the question then picked up bag and dumped it on the floor. Cue lots of squealing and filthy language.I just stuck my head in my book and ignored.

I did something similar years ago, on the Tyneside Metro. A woman in her 50s had a few shopping bags on the only seat in the carriage and I asked if she'd move them, so she pulled them a bit closer, leaving about a third of the seat free. I asked if her bags had a ticket and she glared.

I dumped the bags on the floor and she went mental and accused me of "assaulting" her shopping. Loads of people were laughing.

I try to get a table seat, if going long distance and full expect people to sit there, too. Sometimes I get lucky, sometimes not. It can be quite pleasant, if you get chatting.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 15/02/2023 15:55

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I was born in 64. Your comment is ageist and offensive.

thing47 · 15/02/2023 15:55

Meh. It's public transport, every member of the public has an equal right to any free, unreserved seat.

On our train line the chances of having a 4-seat table to yourself for 1 stop, let alone an entire journey, would be zero, the trains are just too busy for that. And at midday in the middle of half-term those other people are more likely than not to be families.

Perfectly OK for a single traveller to sit at a 4-seat table but if they start grumping about the spare seats becoming occupied they are being a dick.

Mark19735 · 15/02/2023 15:56

Wassup? Some family sat at your table?

NewtyJESUS · 15/02/2023 15:59

I'll aways sit on a table on my own, mainly because I pull a laptop out and do my work :) would probably have shot daggers to if I had a family sit next to me Wink

Brefugee · 15/02/2023 16:00

have only read OPs posts.

It is not strange to want to sit at a table. If you are lucky nobody else sits there. if you're unlucky? 3 other people come along.

I have Resting Medusa Face. I am not grumpy, cross or any of the things you ascribe to someone going about their business and not saying anything to you. You could be describing me though because i look as though i want to punch everyone all the time. Just get on with your day and let other people get on with theirs.

DesertRose64 · 15/02/2023 16:07

MintsPi · 15/02/2023 13:03

Yanbu. There is a definitely a section of passengers who think because they are working on the train they have the right to take up the whole table with their laptop and paperwork and that they shouldn't have to share this table with anyone. If anyone dares to sit at their table they huff and puff and make a big show of moving their laptops over a few millimetres.

I once was pushed beyond the limits when I sat down in my precooked seat and the young woman sitting in her pre booked seat did nothing to re-arrange the office space she’d set up. At the next station which was about 7 minutes away two more people sat in their precooked seats and still the woman didn’t move her belongings. So, I started moving her things then marked out an imaginary cross on the table and told her that’s your quarter of the table, this one is mine and that half is for these two women. She then kind of melted into her chair and put her sunglasses on.

DarkShade · 15/02/2023 16:09

Love the table seats and always snag one where I can, especially if I'm trying to work on the laptop. But also I'm one of those weirdos who likes the sound of families (nicely and at normal volume) playing and talking together.

ItsCalledAConversation · 15/02/2023 16:10

In the end we sat down at a table occupied by a lone man. He turned out to be a military man separated from his similar-age family by work, and he was very chatty, think he enjoyed soaking up the family vibes in the end.

CoffeeWithCheese · 15/02/2023 16:14

I always liked a table seat when I commuted by train every day - could get some work done on my iPad and still have a space to put my coffee cup down. No issue if someone else joined me at the table seat as long as they left my little 1/4 of it for me to use - I would have been pissed off if a family came sat down and took over the entire bloody table trying to squeeze me out (which is what I suspect happened).

I deliberately used to use an iPad with keyboard to work on trains as it took up less space than my bigger laptop... used to get some great entertainment watching men in suits trying to inch their laptop further and further across the table against a similar opponent though.

starfishmummy · 15/02/2023 16:27

I prefer a table too. No issue if other people want to join. But I'd get huffy if they took up more than their fair share of the table!

SybilWrites · 15/02/2023 16:32

I'd neither shoot them the evils, nor expect them not to sit at the table with me, but doesn't mean that I would be hugely pleased that they're sitting there. It isn't my idea of fun to sit on a long train journey with other peoples children.

I recognise that everyone has the same entitlement to sit at a table on a train. But most people, when a family with young children get on a train, or a plane, don't want those young children sat next to them!

SinnerBoy · 15/02/2023 16:33

thing47 · Today 15:55

Perfectly OK for a single traveller to sit at a 4-seat table but if they start grumping about the spare seats becoming occupied they are being a dick.

I agree entirely!

Seasonofthewitch83 · 15/02/2023 16:35

SinnerBoy · 15/02/2023 16:33

thing47 · Today 15:55

Perfectly OK for a single traveller to sit at a 4-seat table but if they start grumping about the spare seats becoming occupied they are being a dick.

I agree entirely!

This should end the thread! Lol

SinnerBoy · 15/02/2023 16:41

Yes!

surreygirl1987 · 15/02/2023 17:01

I always sit at a table on the train. More legroom (if nobody is opposite you anyway!).

FadoFado · 15/02/2023 17:11

SybilWrites · 15/02/2023 16:32

I'd neither shoot them the evils, nor expect them not to sit at the table with me, but doesn't mean that I would be hugely pleased that they're sitting there. It isn't my idea of fun to sit on a long train journey with other peoples children.

I recognise that everyone has the same entitlement to sit at a table on a train. But most people, when a family with young children get on a train, or a plane, don't want those young children sat next to them!

well whether you'd be hugely pleased or not is neither here nor there really. we don't get to handpick our plane or train companions.

Topsyturvy78 · 15/02/2023 17:41

Yes they were in other seats a few seats back. We struggled to get two seats together and each child needs a carer with them. Son was a runner daughter has epilepsy but they both can sit too close to strangers. I had sat at the table let my auntie know there was a table so there was me and son sat down already. Auntie and daughter were just coming to join us literally behind us but someone else got there first. So am I expected to sit opposite this stranger even though we were sat at the table first. I just said I'm sorry but there's four of us. I got the table so the four of us traveling together could sit together for the first time on our journey. Do I really need to spell it out?

BlondeBombshelf · 15/02/2023 17:49

Before you got on she may have had her laptop out and been doing some work at the table. You don’t trump her just because you’ve got kids plus it’s not like she prevented you sitting there.