Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Crowded Trains. AIBU?

37 replies

Crowler · 02/12/2013 18:23

I would really like to know how the irritated people on the crowded train expects me to go to work only those days that my ONLY recourse is to go between 8 and 9 because of the school run. I very frequently let several trains pass in hopes that a less crowded one comes, but they never do.

This has been bugging me for a while, but today I stepped in (it was crowded, but there was a gap) and I smiled and said sorry, I've just let three trains pass to the insane woman standing next to me rolling her eyes. Just as the doors were closing she decided to get off in a huff, trapping me in the doors with her. I got shouty with her and then had a rather embarrassing ride into the city!

What am I supposed to do? AIBU by getting on a crowded train? Really would love to know.

OP posts:
maillotjaune · 02/12/2013 18:30

Course not, if there's room to get on you get on. It's horrible for everyone but that's hardly your fault.

I often ask people to move down as you can usually see gaps further away from the door. If no one got onto busy trains the line I'm on now would implode or something.

Original poster
Crowler · 02/12/2013 18:35

It seems obvious to me as well. But why are people so put out by the people joining? I try to smile and affect a kind of "aw shucks sorry about this" attitude but it's pretty annoying when people get so huffy.

OP posts:
Financeprincess · 02/12/2013 18:54

Especially when people are crowding the area by the doors, leaving yawning gaps in the carriages, then when you say, "excuse me" as you try to get onto the train they respond with a huffy, "where to?". Miserable bar stewards.

Mrsmorton · 02/12/2013 18:57

I'm a London commuter and I went on a train in birmingham this weekend (where I studied) and I'm serious, there was room for about another eleventy billion people in this carriage but the huffing and puffing and comments about it being too busy we're hilarious.

IMO, it's really busy when you're worried you might be pregnant by the time you get off. Anything else is acres of space.

And yes, move down the funking carriage!!

Original poster
Crowler · 02/12/2013 18:58

Yes. Huge gaps towards the back. But it's forbidden to speak on public transport in Britain, so one suffers in silence.

OP posts:
Original poster
Crowler · 02/12/2013 18:59

you're worried you might be pregnant by the time you get off.
Smile

OP posts:
maillotjaune · 02/12/2013 19:49

No suffering in silence on my tube line. And sometimes people talk to each other even though it's London Shock

obviously just to be rude

Theknacktoflying · 02/12/2013 19:57

And the scary thing is that everyone will be paying more for the privilege ...

I heard a rumble that 'they' are keen to reinstate 3rd class travel

Original poster
Crowler · 02/12/2013 20:20

I have observed people striking up quiet conversation amongst one another. But very few people have the temerity to make an announcement to a random group of people on the train.

OP posts:
Original poster
Crowler · 02/12/2013 20:28

3rd class travel - that sounds pretty grim. Does that mean worse than the current version of very bad?

OP posts:
trainersandcake · 02/12/2013 20:40

When the Tube is busy, I just get on for one (or two) stops in the opposite direction, then just cross over the platform and get on further back!

Isabelonatricycle · 02/12/2013 20:48

Unless I'm mistaken, the current standard class is 3rd class - there used to be three classes, and they got rid of 2nd, leaving 1st and 3rd. So what they'll be introducing will be 4th class.

And yes, the people who don't move into the carriageways, and then give you dirty looks when you point out the rather large area of empty space that they could move into? They ought to have a word with themselves.

ThurlHoHoHow · 02/12/2013 20:57

YANBU. If there's room, there's room.

Though people who don't hold their bags down by their legs to make more room do my fucking head in.

I was stuck on a train in a tunnel at rush hour the other day for 45 minutes. Everyone on the train was nice, once it got past half an hour people started standing up and swapping seats with the people who had been standing for ages. The driver made loads of announcements about the broken down train in front and reminded people how to open the windows and the air vents. When we got to the station, there were staff and paramedics and they checked everyone was OK and offered us water.

Yet still people started having a massive got at the station staff because they were late and "what were they going to do about it"? Confused So unbelievably rude, especially when the whole thing was actually really well managed.

Original poster
Crowler · 03/12/2013 15:13

I don't like to see people directing all their anger about the tube at the drivers or people staffing the stations. It's so lazy and mean.

OP posts:
Justforlaughs · 03/12/2013 15:18

I'm interested in the NEW 3rd class. I know that they say it will be standing room only so more people can fit in. My question is, will it be cheaper than what we have now, or will they charge extra to be in the seated area? Hmm Now, let me think?

Original poster
Crowler · 03/12/2013 15:21

You're not cynically assuming that this is a way to charge more for worse service, are you justforlaughs?
Hmm

OP posts:
Pennythedog · 03/12/2013 15:25

Ignore the tutting. Be thankful you don't live in Tokyo where they employ people to push passengers onto the packed trains.

Ceasre · 03/12/2013 16:40

Oh don't get me started on trains. I commute 4 days per week and I really have to grit my teeth sometimes. Everyone stands by the doors, and asking them to "move down please" they look at you as if you have two heads. God forbid they actually do move down, just tend to shuffle and move about an inch. So in my nice loud voice I say it again and announce if you will not move down then let me through.

People who think that their ticket entitles them to a seat for themselves and one for their bag/jacket and when they see the train getting busy have to be asked to move it.

People who sit next to you (normally men) and read their newspaper across you so you are unable to see your own book.

Men who have to sit with their legs wide open.

People who put their dirty feet on the seats despite their being a sign next to them. They do not even need to be able to read as it is a picture sign.

I could go on but I better not.

whois · 03/12/2013 16:49

If there's room there is room and people need to suck it up. People who don't move down, people who hold bags up high and people who tut have no place in rush hour.

Had a very unusual situation last week, I was 4th person back in queue for tube door and in three trains I didn't manage to get on, they were super rammed. The fourth train came and a woman slightly moved her body angle, motioned for me to get on then cradled my head against her shoulder away from the closing door! Very nice of her.

ThurlHoHoHow · 03/12/2013 18:18

I've just got on my usually full rush hour train. It was a bit late so we all were waiting on the platform in a scrum. I reckon everyone who got on this train gets on it regularly and knows it gets full. So when everyone trooped on, where did people start sitting? In the sodding aisle seat Hmm Caused massive hassle. I barely resisted asking people what on earth they were.thinking.

MillionPramMiles · 04/12/2013 16:28

I find pointing people out helps, as in 'can the blonde woman in the glasses and red jacket move down please, yes you'.

FluffyDucky · 04/12/2013 16:44

What REALLY gets me going, when people crowd around the doors on the platform when you are trying to get off the train. If you don't move, we can't get off! Argh rage!

coffeeinbed · 04/12/2013 16:46

The thing with moving down the carriage is that you sometimes get trapped and miss the your stop.
I get on a fairly empty train and usually try and to stay out of the way because it gets packed later but the station I need is not a very major, so I can get stuck in the middle.
I won't sit if there's seats in the middle of the carriage because of it.

Mrsmorton · 04/12/2013 17:09

I've never missed a stop despite being a devout "mover" down the carriage. In fact, I've never seen it happen on the tube. I've only been commuting for three years but I've not seen anyone miss a stop

coffeeinbed · 04/12/2013 17:21

Train, not tube.
Tube's easier to get out of.