Quiet coach on trains

[1questionfromme]

If you deliberately book on to the quiet coach on a train what does this mean to you? I'm trying to work out if I'm naive or stupid as I thought it meant no talking on phones or listening to music etc out loud. I feel as though that's how it always was. More recently that seems to have gone out of the window and people just treat it the same as any other carriage. I'm on a train to Edinburgh from Kings Cross now and there's one person who has been constantly talking loudly on the phone and another with a child playing a beepy game on a tablet.

Maybe I've just not been in one for a while but I'm not sure the fact it's a quiet carriage is that obviously signposted. I think some people might genuinely just not notice. Any staff on board should enforce it though.

A child with a beeping toy is something I'd consider unacceptable on any kind of carriage to be honest.

I did once say softly, 'This is the quiet coach, I'm not sure if you're aware' to a young couple playing film clips out loud on their phone.
Worked like a charm.

So you could try that, or find a member of staff.

I travel on that same line. I've considered just not bothering to book the quiet coach anymore, because at least I wouldn't be disappointed to find the non-quiet carriage so noisy. Phone calls, films, music, loud conversations, noisy children: the entire concept of a quiet carriage seems to have disappeared on LNER trains the past couple of years.

I agree with you but the reality is usually quite different! I've even seen the staff ask people to turn music etc off but they take no notice. It's a sad representation of the lack of respect so many people have for others these days.

It means fuck all.

Any semblance of quiet on the train is now only to be found in first class. This seems to price out most of the noisy cunt bags.

@DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace that's a good point actually. Now I've looked there's a small rectangular sign above each window but it's not enormously noticeable, and it's actually described as 'quieter coach' rather than 'quiet' so maybe it's my expectations that are skewed and the descriptor has changed or I've misunderstood.

@EdithStourton well done for speaking up. I'm impressed that you did and that people responded.

@Fink this was my perception - that it seems worse than it did. But I do also think trains seem busier than ever so I suppose naturally they will be louder.

Doesn't stop it being annoying though !!

@MiddleAgedDread sadly I think the same to some extent. It's not just trains where you get the feeling that people don't really give a shiny shite about anyone else.

@HeeseChamwich this made me laugh (not out loud though, obviously I'm being quiet )

Doesn't seem to work any more. I told a woman it was a quiet carriage when she was loudly playing her music and she called me a cunt. So that was nice.

One of the reasons I bought a pair of noise cancelling headphones. People are just too awful.

@WestwardHo1 this is a really good idea!

Quiet coaches have never worked, because anyone can be randomly assigned one with their seat reservation without knowing about it. My understanding is that electronics aren’t allowed, including taking phone calls, but conversations are. But then I don’t want to hear noise from anyone’s device in any carriage, be that Peppa Pig or someone’s FaceTime call.

no one should be listening to anything audible to anyone in ANY coach, that’s what headphones are for. I rarely bust out a screen for my 3 year old on a train journey but if I do, it’s sound off or headphones. He was literally 3 last week so if he can grasp the concept there’s no excuse for grown adults. We also use our ‘indoor voices’ as of course he’s going to want to chat and make noise, but no shouting and no noisy toys. We’d also try to avoid the quiet coach although 99% of the time he’s better behaved and more socially aware than some of the adults in there.

Sadly, we are usually in the minority of people who actually have any consideration for anyone else.

Can't stand people using devices without headphones on any carriage. It's so inconsiderate- unless there's a specific reason due to disability, everyone should be using headphones/ earbuds etc. I don't mind normal/ quiet conversation in a quiet carriage.

I ended up in seats in a quiet carriage with my little grandson. I was abit worried because it was a long journey. He was better behaved than most of the noisy adults.

In my experience (travel on trains weekly), it's now exclusively for children using iPads with the sound on.

I should really stop booking it but hope always springs eternal.

Speak up. Astounds me that it is very rare that anyone does these days.

You don't need to be rude, just a simple "Are you aware this is the quiet carriage? Please could you keep the noise down/stop talking/turn the music off"

It makes no difference to me which coach I’m on as I just quietly read but I also don’t notice any difference in terms of people being more considerate because they are on a quiet coach or not. I think sometimes they just see seats and sit down regardless of the type of coach.

Noise cancelling headphones have revolutionised train travel for me! I get very stressed by other people’s noise, so it has really helped me.

I've given up requesting the quiet coach because the other coaches tend to be quieter

I would expect zero noise except unavoidable things like doors opening, a bag moving etc.

In Spain they are extremely strict. If you are making deliberate noise in the quiet carriage you get a bollocking from the conductor. As it should be.

The problem with the quiet coach on some GWR trains is it's the only coach which has a wheelchair space which if not being used for a wheelchair can be used for a pram/pushchair

Wow. Seems like I'm not alone here then!

Ask one of the staff to tell the idiots to turn off their phone and tablet.

On many trains these days you aren’t seeing any ‘staff’.

"This is a quiet coach. You must use headphones or ear buds, and ensure phone calls are swift and quiet. Thank you"

In BIG letters on every window. I will dream on.....

The problem with public transport is that other people use it 😆

It should just be general etiquette to keep noise to minimum (so quiet talking, the odd phone call etc, and accepting babies cry for example).